There's a burger franchise based in Brisbane, Australia, which has been condemned by the Australian Christian Lobby, and also by a drug rehabilitation center...
Why?
Perhaps it has something to do with their promotions...
The franchise is called "Burger Urge."
In 2011, as a promotion, Burger Urge distributed 20,000 apparently blood-filled syringes as part of a promotion.
(Actually it's a pen. The red liquid is ink, not blood.) It plays on their slogan - "taste addiction." Their menu also has categories like "beef injection" and "lamb phetamine." Obviously, not everyone was happy with the promotion...
But did it work? Apparently, it worked very well!
Then, in 2012, they tried a different promotion...
For this promotion, they distributed condoms to mail boxes across the city. The condom packets had the slogan "get intimate with our new premium beef"...
Some people got angry.
But did it work to drum up business? The answer is, yes, it did...
It shows that "controversy" often sells...! Though - of course, it can get dangerous if it goes too far...
Here's where you can find more info about their unusual and controversial campaigns...
Syringe-inspired burger marketing ploy attracts pointed criticism
The boys at Burger Urge and their latest marketing stunt that's offending customers
How a burger business made its mark via controversial advertising
Burger Urge website
(I'm not condoning their promotions. But, I think it is an interesting example of a controversial commercial promotion,
outside of the entertainment biz...)
Best wishes,
Dien