Being the google-able name behind the week’s most contentious issue heard ’round the nation would have absolutely anyone like:
The creative agency Carrspace, now shot to infamy over a contentious Anzac Day campaign for supermarket giant Woolworths was hardly immune to the wrath online, as a site encouraging users to upload family photos and memorabilia to their site swiftly felt the hand of the Internet’s Kraken – users either a) took the piss over an excruciatingly naff concept or b) took offense over the commercialisation of a national holiday of remembrance.
I mean, interpretations of this ilk popped up faster than I could even manage to SMDH.
Is this what you meant @woolworths #freshinourmemories pic.twitter.com/xttGJjhFx0
— Discombobulate (@Discombobul8) April 14, 2015
Carrspace have spoken out today over the backlash, following Woolworths’ taking down of the Fresh In Our Memories site altogether—not because it was an undeniably shitty ploy, but because the campaign failed to receive approval for their ANZAC branding—claiming that the agency had not “gone into hiding” per some media reports; rather, their company site was down due to an influx of traffic.
Carrspace director Madeleine Preece told Fairfax today: “We have not been in hiding. Unfortunately, we have had technical issues with our website due to the volume of traffic in the last 24 hours. We never removed our website.”
Preece did confirm, however, that Carrspace’s Twitter had been deactivated due to a tidal wave of trolls hurling online abuse at their staff over the campaign: “We respect the court of public opinion about our work, we value feedback, but we don’t respect trolls or abusive and offensive language being used towards our staff.”
Woolworths have reportedly dodged the $50,000 fine associated with using ANZAC branding without permission, and have taken down the Fresh In Our Memories site. RIP Fresh In Our Memories, always fresh in our memories.
via SMH.
