ING Direct’s quick response mollifies critics of ad deemed offensive

For some, it’s a huge bummer. The Canadian arm of ING Direct sought to capitalize on that notion with a Canadian TV commercial.

The commercial, developed by Toronto agency St. John, depicted a man suffering from depression-like symptoms, along with sleeplessness and anxiety.

“Turns out,” the narrator says, “it was RSP.”

From Marketingmag.ca:

“One TV spot launching Monday opens on a man glumly sitting in a chair outside and proceeds to show images of him lying motionless on the couch, or standing beside unused fitness equipment. The spot then informs viewers that his wife noted his condition and had him at ING.ca ‘first thing.'”