P&G Pulls Detergent Over Neo-Nazi Code
Fri, 05/09/2014 - 12:22pm


BERLIN (AP) -- Procter & Gamble has apologized for "any false connotations" after stirring anger in Germany for unintentionally placing a neo-Nazi code on promotional packages for its Ariel laundry detergent.

Outraged shoppers had posted pictures online of Ariel powder boxes featuring a white soccer jersey with a large number "88." The number is sensitive because far-right extremists in Germany often use it as a code to skirt a ban on the use of Nazi slogans in public: since "H'' is the eighth letter of the alphabet, "88" represents the phrase "Heil Hitler." Similarly, "18" is used to stand for "A.H." or Adolf Hitler.

Procter & Gamble acknowledged Friday that the number was "unintentionally ambiguous."

"We very much regret if there are any false associations and distance ourselves clearly from any far-right ideology," company spokeswoman Gabi Hassig said in a statement. The number "88" was intended to show how many loads of laundry buyers would be able to do with one package.

Haessig said the company has stopped shipping the offending powder, as well as a liquid detergent that was being promoted as "Ariel 18." The number also represented the number of loads that could be done, the company said.

 

LOL Unintentional ambiguity; but it strikes me that '88' also looks quite similar (probably intentionally) to the symbol 'SS' (for the Waffen SS or the Schutzstaffel).

 

OMG, how could they do that! Don't they know what's happening in the underground world of communication. The PR guy in charge has to be pulling his hair out...... what next!

 

Heard that they were shooting for Smokey the Bear due to his alleged nazi connection!

 

How about the new Bimmer model, the "i8" ? It could look like 18 = A Hitler!

I think that P&G should hire S1997 for linguistic interpretation, and pay him with German cars