GoDaddy released a Super Bowl ad about a cute but lost puppy that finds its way home amid a rainstorm — but the company, shortly after, pulled it from YouTube and social media, amid a firestorm of criticisms.
The problem: Turns out, the puppy was being sold on a website built by GoDaddy, and animal rights activists rallied in opposition.
The spot was called “Journey Home,” and it was only a few hours after its release that tens of thousands signed a petition on Change.org, requesting GoDaddy to cut it.
“This morning, we previewed GoDaddy’s Super Bowl spot on a popular talk show and shortly after, a controversy stated to swirl about Buddy, our puppy, being sold online,” the company said in a statement, USA Today reported. “The responses were emotional and direct. Many people urged us not to run the ad. … The net result? We are pulling the ad from the Super Bowl.”
GoDaddy also said that the puppy’s been named “Chief Companion Officer” at the company and been adopted by “one of our longtime employees,” USA Today reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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