CREST - Halloween Treats Gone Wrong
This is isn't gonna be a good idea...
A 2013 Halloween commercial for two of P&G's dental hygiene companies, Crest and Oral-B.
Synopsis[]
The commercial features what appears to be either a dentist or an employee for P&G saying "Who likes Halloween candy?" and the kids say yes to that. Then the man says that candy is gonna be healthy vitamin-induced vegetable-flavored treats. Then a hand give the kids some "Veggie Gummies" with Vitamin A & D and flavoured with Asparagus and Beetroot and they didn't like it. Then they gave them some Artichoke Butter Cups (it's like Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, but with artichoke butter instead of peanut butter) and a girl threw up from the taste. After trying various healthy candy (such as Seaweed Pops and Tofu Marshmallows), they gave them the final treat: B-12 Cupcakes. One of the kids sad that it tastes like "Poopy Piñata". The commercial ends with the kids screaming.
Why It's Cursed[]
This commercial is cursed on multiple levels, making it a nightmare for both viewers and the brands involved:
- Child Abuse as "Comedy": The central premise revolves around torturing children with disgusting food to the point of one throwing up and all of them screaming and crying, all while presenting it as lighthearted humor. This is not only disturbing but also deeply unsettling, especially for a brand that promotes oral hygiene and health. It normalizes subjecting children to extreme discomfort and even physical distress for an adult's agenda, which is profoundly unethical and unfunny.
- Brand Self-Sabotage: Crest and Oral-B are dental hygiene brands. The commercial's message, intentionally or not, becomes: "If you want to avoid cavities, you must endure unimaginable suffering." Instead of promoting good dental habits in an appealing way (e.g., "enjoy candy, but brush well!"), it creates a visceral association between dental health and trauma. It actively makes the alternative (regular candy and brushing) seem infinitely more appealing than whatever nightmare P&G is peddling.
- Psychological Warfare on Children: The commercial implies that children's natural desires (for sweet treats on Halloween) are wrong and must be corrected through aversion therapy. The "Veggie Gummies," "Artichoke Butter Cups," "Seaweed Pops," "Tofu Marshmallows," and "B-12 Cupcakes" are not just unappetizing; they are designed to be repellents. This could foster a deep-seated resentment towards healthy eating, dental care, and even the brands themselves.
- Horrific Imagery and Sounds: A child throwing up on screen, even if implied or cartoonish, is incredibly off-putting. The children's crying and screaming are an unsettling and unforgettable impression that evokes horror rather than humor.
- Unrealistic and Unsympathetic Portrayal of Adults: The man presenting these "treats" comes across as either sadistic or completely oblivious to the suffering he's inflicting. There's no empathy, just a relentless push for a "healthy" agenda that completely misses the point of childhood joy and Halloween.
- Misguided Message about "Healthy" Eating: While the intent might be to satirize overly strict health trends, the execution is so extreme that it makes "healthy" food itself seem like punishment, potentially turning children off from genuinely nutritious options.
- Complete Misunderstanding of Target Audience: While the brands might be targeting parents, the commercial alienates children entirely, and many parents would be appalled by the depiction of child distress. It's a tone-deaf attempt at humor that crosses several lines of good taste and ethical advertising.
In essence, this commercial is cursed because it takes child suffering, brand destruction, and psychological manipulation, wraps it in a Halloween theme, and presents it as a promotional tool for dental hygiene. It's an anti-commercial that would likely generate widespread outrage and boycotts rather than sales.