Last night saw the airing of Walkers Crisps new TV advertisement in which Gary Lineker gets covered in wet concrete from height employee.

 


Construction union Ucatt has called on the crisp manufacturer to remove the advertisement which it calls insensitive and offensive as its airing coincides with the inquest into the death of a Crossrail worker who was killed following an incident involving concrete.

 


Ucatt general secretary Steve Murphy said: “This advert is extremely insensitive and offensive. There is nothing amusing about accidents on construction sites and the timing of the advert could not have been worse. If Walkers have a social conscience they should remove the advert and immediately apologise to Mr Tkacik’s family.”

 


Walkers Crisps Marketing Director Rachel Holms was quoted by The Grocer magazine saying: “We know that people love Walkers ads, and the fun that Gary Lineker brings to any situation. It was essential for us to continue to capture the cheeky tone and warmth Walkers is famous for in this new campaign.”

 

Undoubtedly there was no malice in Walkers creation of this ad. However this ad perpetuates the negative perceptions the industry has been working hard to overcome. It makes light of some of the very real dangers workers face in the construction industry every day, whilst not recognising the dangers of acting in such a way with a construction material such as concrete.

 

What do you think?

 



UPDATE 25/02/2015

Walkers Crisps have pulled the above ad stating: "As soon as we were made aware of this issue we immediately took the decision to stop running this advert. We did not set out to cause offence and sincerely apologise for any upset that may have been caused."