Did Groupon's Super Bowl ad go too far? [Updated]

If the Dalai Lama was watching the Super Bowl, he probably wasn't laughing at Groupon's ad. The spot featured actor Timothy Hutton, speaking in an ultra-serious tone, and making light of the Chinese occupation of Tibet, a situation many find morally contemptuous. "The people of Tibet are in trouble," he said. "Their very culture is in jeopardy ... but they still whip up an amazing fish curry. And since 200 of us bought at Groupon.com, we're getting $30 of Tibetan food for just $15 at Himalayan Restaurant in Chicago."

Funny? Some people didn't think so. A few minutes after the ad aired, a backlash quickly ignited on Twitter. Watch the clip above and tell us what you think: Was the ad in poor taste?

[Updated at 8:55 a.m.: Groupon responds on its website and offers to match donations to the Tibet Fund: "The gist of the concept is this: When groups of people act together to do something, it’s usually to help a cause. With Groupon, people act together to help themselves by getting great deals. So what if we did a parody of a celebrity-narrated, PSA-style commercial that you think is about some noble cause (such as “Save the Whales”), but then it’s revealed to actually be a passionate call to action to help yourself (as in “Save the Money”)?

“Since we grew out of a collective action and philanthropy site (ThePoint.com) and ended up selling coupons, we loved the idea of poking fun at ourselves by talking about discounts as a noble cause. So we bought the spots, hired mockumentary expert Christopher Guest to direct them, enlisted some celebrity faux-philanthropists, and plopped down three Groupon ads before, during, and after the biggest American football game in the world.

“You can view the already-aired commercials, as well as new ones as we release them, at SaveTheMoney.org. And if you’ve saved enough money for yourself and feel like saving something else, you can donate to mission-driven organizations that are doing great work for the causes featured in our PSA parodies. If you guys pony up, Groupon will contribute matching donations of up to $100,000 for three featured charities -- Rainforest Action Network, buildOn, and the Tibet Fund -- and Groupon credit of up to $100,000 for contributions made to Greenpeace.”]

-- Melissa Maerz

Comments

[Amy]

Although it may not have been in good taste, it did bring awareness to the tragic situation.

[David]

Funny, no matter how you slice it. Sure, it might have been a little insensitive, but we're not watching the Superbowl commercials for heartwrenching moments. That would be like getting upset at Lisa Lampanelli for making a racist joke...

[q]

big deal

[Cranios]

Come on, people.
1. Groupon is being criticized because the Chinese government didn't like this. Since when has it been the responsibility of private companies to cater to the sensitivities of foreign dictators?

2. The advert used surprise as a way of getting attention. I saw the ad and it was funny. Americans should take some of the starch out of their shorts.

[Patrick Quinn]

One man's bad taste is another man's fish curry.

[Cage]

Seriously, why even make an article on this? "Oh but it's the Dali Lama, his religion is offended!". Be it another media slam against the Christians, nobody in the liberal media would care.

[LDA]

Arguably one of the worst Super Bowls EVER for advertising content and 'creativity,' or what seems to pass for it these days. This herd of blather was either obtuse, disjointed, banal, or just plain crass, as evidenced by the aforementioned spot and a few others that really fell over the side where good taste is concerned. The agencies responsible seem universally devoid of creative talent and, apparently, don't even know what the word creative means. Where the hell is Don Draper when you need him?

[Steve M]

At the party everyone stopped and commented that it was in poor taste.
Did it go too far? Probably.
My favorite was Doritos - best bit commercial.
When the dork sucked the residue off the the Dorito eaters fingers it was hilarious.

[DSinAZ]

Lighten up people - it was a funny spot :)

[Em]

Very TACKY! When I saw the commercial, I was left thinking 'WHAT?!? It's like the Kenneth Cole tweet linking chaos in Egypt to excitement over his spring collection! I don't think people will stop using Groupon, if so, the decrease will be slight. Groupon and Kenneth Cole made very STUPID , public, mistakes! Hopefully they've learned a lesson & if not and they lose customers, they, or some other company will have learned what not to do. But, I don't feel pity for either company.

[SaveTheMoney]

SaveTheMoney.org was live BEFORE the ads aired so it wasnt a response but their intention the whole time.

[Simon]

My wife and I thought the ad was great. Have we become so politically correct as a society that we can't laugh at humor that pushes the boundaries? Monty Python used Hitler as a comic foil in several sketches, but it doesn't mean they ever condoned the Holocaust.

People need to lighten up . . .

[Redskin]

This is racial and cultural insensitivity in the pursuit of the almighty buck at it's worst. This ranks down there with the Catholic doritos/pepsi and the KFC white cricket supporter ads. The "Madison Avenue" idiots are always blinded by the drive to get the contract no matter the consequences. The movie industry pre-screens their movies with selected cross cultured audiences to gauge reaction to their movies. The advertising industry should do the same.

[rob]

Great commerical. I never heard of Groupcon before. I mean, littlen up people. Have a sense of humor already. Besides, the advisting worked. If it weren't for the controverse I might not have even heard about this on the news. I just signed up on Groupon and hope to save some money now.

[Mathew]

I thought it was funny, people need to relax.

[Randy]

These ads were distateful and I don't know which way to be insulted more...making light of serious issues, or the implication that as an American if I can get a good deal somewhere I could care less about global problems.

Well Groupon, you won't be selling me coupons....not after that.

[Big E]

Lighten up - this was funny - memorable - and quite frankly refreshing. Go Groupon. And I have never even used Groupon.

[brucejames]

This commercial was very unfunny and at least slightly in poor taste.

[Bob]

Yeah, making fun of the systematic genocide of another group of people is really funny. I'll never do business with Groupon.

[brian]

I thought it was pretty funny. I honestly don't understand why so many people are getting riled up about a commercial from a company that obviously has a unique sense of humor.