During every Super Bowl, there’s a buzz about the commercials that get banned for being too controversial. Above is a screenshot of the ‘Jesus Hates Obama’ ad, which was banned earlier this year. It happens every year. Nearly 100 million Super Bowl fans gather in front of their televisions not only to watch the game, but to check out the most anticipated and expensive ads of the year – for which Fox is charging a whopping $3 million for a 30-second slot.
But there’s also always a buzz about the ads we don’t see, the ones that get rejected for being too racy, too politically incorrect or just too controversial.
1. Jesus Hates Obama
Fox rejected this controversial Super Bowl ad from conservative comedy site JesusHates Obama.com. The ad, which would have run this Sunday, depicts bobble-head versions of President Obama and a scowling Jesus set to the “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”
The Obama bobblehead falls into a fish bowl, at which time Jesus appears smiling in the frame donning the company’s T-shirt. Fox said the commercial was “not acceptable to air” on the network. The site’s creator insists the commercial is just a joke.
2. PETA: Veggie Love
It turns out vegetables can be too sexy. In an ad for the 2009 Super Bowl, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals aimed to promote vegetarianism by featuring scantily-clad women getting “inimate” with vegetables. A tagline comes across the screen reading, “Studies show vegetarians have better sex…”
NBC said it pulled the plug because the “depicts a level of sexuality exceeding our standards.”
‘Veggie Love’: PETA’s Banned Super Bowl Ad
‘Veggie Love’: PETA’s Banned Super Bowl Ad
3. Snickers
In this controversial commercial from 2007, two men are working on a car when one decides to break out a Snickers bar. After his friend decides he too wants in on the snack, the two accidentally end up kissing Lady and the Tramp-style. They men freak out and insist they have to find something manly to do (like pulling out their chest hair).
4. Ashley Madison
Fox rejected a 2011 Super Bowl ad from Ashley Madison, the online dating services for those looking to have an affair. Fox simply said they deemed the commercial “not acceptable.”
The spot features porn star Savanna Samson, who catches her husband cheating on her with an office worker. Samson then imagines herself getting “busy” with everyone in the office, including a man and a woman, and a life-sized stuffed animal.
5. Bud Light: Cut the Cheese:
This Bud just wasn’t for you. This ad, featuring two men working in a deli, got the ax in 2088. One man offers the other a Bud Light, but his co-worker insists he can’t accept because he has to flatulate, aka cut the cheese. The two go back and forth about “cutting the cheese.” It was deemed too controversial for television viewers.
6. Bud Light: Good Dog
In 2006, this “Good Dog” ad was rejected when it featured a well-trained dog biting his owner’s neighbor in the nether regions – a move that that forced him to drop his beer.
7. Go Daddy: Exposure
The Internet domain name outfit is no stranger to controversial commercials. In 2008, this “Exposure” ad featured beautiful women climbing out of limos with pet beavers, sly referencing stars, not wearing underwear, getting caught by paparzzi.
Fox didn’t approve of the “beaver” references.
8. Mancrunch.com
In 2010, CBS rejected an ad from gay dating site ManCrunch, telling the company that it’s “not within the network’s broadcast standards for Super Bowl Sunday.”
The ad shows two football fans who begin to makeout on a couch. Another friend looks on in shock.
9. Go Daddy: Lola
In this 2010 ad for Go Daddy, a retired male football player named “Lola” embarks on a successful career as a lingerie designer.
CBS rejected the ad, which had homosexual overtones, deeming the spot too “inappropriate.”
10. The United Church of Christ
The United Church of Christ was turned down by CBS in 2004 when it wanted to air a commercial that welcomed gay and lesbian Christians to the denomination. It showed a bouncer refusing to let someone people into the church. A tagline reading, “Jesus didn’t turn anyone away. Neither do we,” is shown.
CBS said it rejected the ad because of the network’s policy of “prohibiting advocacy ads, even ones that carry an ‘implicit endorsement for a side in a public debate.”
11. Fixed Point Foundation: John 3:16
Fox rejected a 2011 Super Bowl commercial featuring a reference to a Bible verse John 3:16.
The 30-second piece shows football fans watching a game. Then there the camera shows a close-up of a player’s face, who has black smudge under his eyes that say “John 3:16.” The viewer is then directed to a website to look up the verse
Fox said the commercial was turned down because it contained “religious doctrine,” which is against the network’s policy.
