Here are 25 of the most controversial September 11 ads ever made. Some were made post 9/11, and some were old pieces rediscovered. Many were banned or removed immediately after appearing due to threats or complaints, and we have them proudly here for you. What do you think? Are people being insensitive or too sensitive?


No idea why Cingular decided to add a burning tower image to their ad campaign. Doesn't even relate at all.


What the a fridge have anything to do with 911?


Really tasteless Maker's Mark ad




The picture of the broken building to the left is part of the World Trade Center ruins






Album cover of Coup, playing Hip Hop music as the WTC is burning in the background

Ad for BIC wite out, showing how it can be used to even erase the plane about to hit WTC

Don't they already make enough money for the reconstruction?

Humo Magazine suggesting the WTC was caused by American human error

As if the News agencies hasn't cash cowed 9/11 enough

Another smoking Ad relating itself to September 11

Big oops by Microsoft
Not the first time Microsoft made such a blunder with their ads though. Here’s another big OOPS they made with their Microsoft Polish Ad.

The now infamous WWF ad, describing the effects of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami with 9/11 imagery


Marie
In all fairness, most of these ads are not especially shocking. The ads using the idea of 9/11 to promote other causes make it fairly plain that they are saying “Hey, 9/11 was a big tragedy, right? Well, think about your response to 9/11, and then consider what your response is to this other tragedy, which has a far higher cost in human life, but gets less publicity or unified public support.”
Leigh
Tsunami on Taiwan, eh? Better fact-check that one…
Funnycat
Thanks Leigh, you are absolutely correct. I have corrected the WWF Ad caption from Taiwan to 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami now. My bad for not thoroughly checking the facts first. The WWF ad was released in August 2009, and I got that mixed up with the Taiwan Typhoon incident, which occurred in August 2009 as well.
I thought that WWF rushed out the Ad to take advantage of the attention surrounding the Taiwan incident.
Lesson of the day: Google can’t read your mind, make sure you do your info searches properly.
Joel
Certainly the Maker’s Mark ad is pre-9/11 and is therefore not tasteless–simply referencing the red wax seal on the bottle top (not BLOOOOD!).
The Coup album quite famously was set for release Sept. 2001 but held in order to change that cover.