In the original ad, Sony’s fictional director of rumour confirmation stated, “You can’t believe everything you read on the internet. Otherwise, I’d be a Nigerian millionaire by now.”
According to reports citing a statement from Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Communication, Prof. Dora Akunyili, the African republic is up in arms over Sony’s latest PS3 ad campaign. Specifically, it appears one line from one of the commercials is an “unwarranted attack on the reputation and image of the country” according to Nigeria’s federal government. The government demanded an apology from Sony Computer Entertainment.
The official PlayStation web site ran this apology: “It has come to our attention that a recent TV advertisement for PlayStation may have offended some members of the Nigerian community. We never intended to create a situation that would upset anyone, and we have taken action to immediately remove the advertisement from the air. We apologise to anyone this may have offended.”
The newly reworked ad features no mention of Nigeria, but instead features this line: “You can’t believe everything you read on the internet. That’s how World War I got started.” Wait until World War I hears about this, Sony. It’s gonna be so pissed.
Thanks, Max!
[Pic]
Khuntza
Friday, September 11, 2009 at 6:22 PMScrew Nigeria.. maybe if their cheif export wasn’t email scams then Sony wouldnt have used the line in the first place..
annonie
Friday, September 11, 2009 at 6:52 PMI thought it was a fairly clever advert. It defines the times: everyones on the internet and everybody loves a good internet rumor. Nigeria should just get theyre broke ass up and fix themselves instead of blaming Sony for labelling it. When somebody pays you out you ignore it and do better than it not whine like a little sh**.
Eugene
Saturday, September 12, 2009 at 7:36 PMI totally agree, also, when watching the uncensored one on YT, there was a link to another PS3 ad, which does involve talk about the internet. Having the Nigerian line in there joined the two ads, but now, well you know.
nicholas
Friday, September 11, 2009 at 8:04 PMI lol’d
good change!
Captain_Clown
Friday, September 11, 2009 at 8:20 PMThat’s ridiculous, maybe I’m ignorant, but how is that an attack on Nigeria? Whatever, I’d love it if companies just had the balls to say “you know, stuff the apology, it’s not a big deal, get over it”.
Too much political correctness, everything gets cleaned up and sanitised these days.
CloneTrooper
Friday, September 11, 2009 at 8:37 PM“unwarranted attack on the reputation and image of the country”
I think the Nigerian Scam Artists have already taken care of that…
Oh wai- Am I allowed to say there? or should I change my comment to be something more WWI-centric?
:P
Anton
Friday, September 11, 2009 at 9:34 PMI think they were overreacting a bit here >.>
Dunnowhathuh
Friday, September 11, 2009 at 10:48 PMOther countries get bagged out all the time (and for things that aren’t actually true most of the time) and we all take it and laugh. You bag out Nigeria for something that’s actually true and they get offended….This version isn’t funny either.
S.Guine
Friday, September 11, 2009 at 11:11 PMYou realise WWI is going to be REALLY pissed, Dont you!?
picky
Saturday, September 12, 2009 at 2:23 PMsomeones always offended !
706
Saturday, September 12, 2009 at 3:53 PMOh no, noone anger the Nigerians, cause noone has ever made fun of any country in the history of the world have they. How many George Bush jokes ran on national TV worldwide? If Nigeria don’t like it then they should try and stop the scammers. Its like Somalians complaining that people believe they’re pirates. Your country contains pirates, what do you expect people to think. If your country contains scammers, people will say it. I’d be more sympathetic if there were WW1 veterans saying that the new comment makes light of the war.
Anonymoose
Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 11:11 PMLooks like the Australians aren’t as scared of the Nigerians. Check out this 419 spoof ad from Australian television http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDFh2_EBOhA