Department store chain Bloomingdale’s came under fire this week after customers noticed a date rape-y ad in its holiday catalogue encouraging you to “spike your best friend’s eggnog when they’re not looking.”
The ad featured a woman dressed in a short skirt and blazer merrily looking away while an eagle-eyed man eyed her suggestively from the periphery.
People online were quick to point out the problems with the ad, with many puzzled about how it could have feasibly ended up in print. Just a sampling of the responses:
What the Hell Bloomingdales? Was Cosby not available to be a pitchman? https://t.co/xDbPe25OTj
— Ted Perry (@TheTeditorial) November 12, 2015
Someone at Bloomingdale’s thought this ad was smart. I assume that person has been fired. https://t.co/VrxfDfSGQI pic.twitter.com/Tg96myLnx7
— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) November 11, 2015
This is what rape culture looks like. Fortunately, Bloomingdales has apologized for this ad. https://t.co/aZMbZXOQ3C
— Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) November 12, 2015
Bloomingdales’s later apologized for the ad, calling it “inappropriate and in poor taste.”
We heard your feedback about our catalog copy, which was inappropriate and in poor taste. Bloomingdale’s sincerely apologizes.
— Bloomingdale’s (@Bloomingdales) November 10, 2015
