25 Of The Most Offensive Advertisements Ever Created

Posted by , Updated on February 13, 2024

The explosive growth of companies throughout the world has turned the advertising field into quite the competitive landscape. From flat-out offensive to pure ridiculous, advertisements sometimes cross the line – and in big ways. With all the content produced, it seems some overly offensive ads (which should never have been made) somehow slipped through the cracks. In other cases, vintage ads which may have been accepted then easily violate our sensitivities these days. Find some of these here in our list of 25 of the most offensive advertisements ever created. We still can’t believe these ads ever existed!

25

Comparing Naomi Campbell to chocolate never ends well

cadbury naomi campbell adtheguardian.com
24

Because guys with afros can't be "civilized"?

nivea recivilize yourself adwww.businessinsider.com.au
23

Sound relationship advice

reebok girlfriend aderikanapoletano.com
22

It seems they've changed their advertising agency since then

van heusen adstyleite.com
21

Federici Ice Cream is definitely pushing the boundaries

federici gelato priest ad
20

More beautiful - from dark to light

dove beauty adthesocietypages.org
19

Could have just said you'd order a pizza

Schlitz beer adhistorybyzim.com
18

How did this ever pass the focus groups?

leggs adnydailynews.com
17

A margarita to die for

hacienda adaorakest.wordpress.com
16

Wonder if this was seen as provocative then, too…

sega adwww.8-bitcentral.com
15

The images from a similar Game Gear ad seem to confirm the wonder

sega game gear adwww.gamebreaker.tv
14

"She acts like an early Christian about to be lunch for a lion, but gives in."

kill a woman adnesbitsvintage.com
13

This is plain creepy

love is baby soft adcomplex.com
12

Didn't anyone see the World War II ad "We can do it!"?

ketchup adm.smh.com.au
11

We can see why they went out of business

coffee spanking adwww.businessinsider.com.au
10

"Oh, it's the best Christmas ever!" said no woman ever upon opening a Hoover

hoover adkenlevine.blogspot.com
9

Work Hard, Look Cute?

wife vitamin adkenlevine.blogspot.com
8

Who can resist a message of "smoke and be skinny"?

Lucky strike adlikeables.wordpress.com
7

They say sex sells, but this is a bit much

trapped my manpinterest.com
6

Was it so sexually suggestive in those times, too?

Tipalet adtobacco.stanford.edu
5

Not purely offensive but a bit shocking considering what we now know

cocaine toothache drops
4

The "Super Seven Incher"

burger king adqualitylogoproducts.com
3

Shaming people isn't the best way to advertise

peta save the whales adnutritionunplugged.com
2

Not really the best comparison for being addicted to fashion

fashion junkiedesignbump.com
1

For when you really need to get clean

soap adboredpanda.com