Site for Cheating Spouses Denied Ad in Super Bowl Program

If you're married and you've never visited AshleyMadison.com, pat yourself on the back, you very well could be a happily married person.

But if you do know of the site, you're either unhappily married or you just spend a ton of time on the Internet. The Web site is a matchmaker for married people looking to get it on outside their restricted ring. Their home page boasts that over three million unhappily married people have joined and are enjoying the occasional skeez-fest.

Rejected Super Bowl Ads

AshleyMadison.com, a Web site for married people looking for a tryst, wanted to run an ad in the official Super Bowl program, but was rejected. Click through for rejected Super Bowl ads through the years.

AshleyMadison.com

Airborne, Super Bowl XXXIX (2005)
Mickey Rooney's rear end is exposed. Fox Broadcasting rejected the commercial. (Watch Video)

Airborne

Go Daddy, Super Bowl XLII (2008)
Supermodels emerge from cars with their beavers. Danica Patrick doesn't play along. Fox rejected the commercial. (Watch Video)

Godaddy.com

Bud Light, Super Bowl XXXIX (2005)
We learn what caused Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction a year later. Budweiser got cold feet about running it. (Watch Video)

Anheuser-Busch

Go Daddy, Super Bowl XXXIX (2005)
"Nipplegate" takes another shot in Go Daddy's campaign. After running a commercial once, Fox Broadcasting didn't run a second ad as planned (Watch Extended Video)

Godaddy.com

Snickers, Super Bowl XLI (2007)
Two guys inadvertently kiss. The commercial ran during the game, but was yanked from rotation after gay and lesbian groups voiced objections. (Watch Video)

Mars, Incorporated

Bud Light, Super Bowl XLI (2007)
A boyfriend apologizes for selling sex tape to stores with the help of Apology-Bot 3000. CBS rejected the commercial. (Watch Video)

Anheuser-Busch

Lincoln, Super Bowl XXXIX (2005)
A clergyman lusts for a Lincoln. Ford pulled the commercial prior to the Super Bowl.

Ford

Ashley Madison, Super Bowl XLIII (2009)
An ad for confidential hook-ups is rejected for the Super Bowl program.

AshleyMadison.com

Why am I telling you all this on a sports site? Well, AshleyMadison.com wanted to advertise in the Super Bowl program, even going so far as to sign a six-figure deal with PSP Sports, the company that puts out many sports programs.

After finding out exactly what the Web site was about, AshleyMadison.com was told they weren't going to be allowed to advertise. Bummer.

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said that no one in the league office actually ever saw the ad. "After realizing what the site was, the sales rep called back and told the company there was a mistake and that his company could not sell an ad to the site."

I don't blame the NFL for not wanting to advertise cheating in a marriage. It is their call, they denied it, fine. What I don't understand is the CEO of AshleyMadison.com comparing it to an alcohol ad.

"I find the rejection to be ridiculous given that a huge percentage of the NFL's marketing content is for products like alcohol, which they sell in their stadiums, promote on their air and clearly have in the magazine," Biderman said. "That's a product that literally kills tens of thousands of people each year. So if the NFL is worried about legislating behavior and regulating what their audience should be exposed to then it should start with a ban on all alcohol advertising and products being sold, not AshleyMadison.com."

I had a beer yesterday and didn't kill anyone. I actually didn't come close to it. If you are advertising for beer, there are people that can go out and enjoy it responsibly. If you are visiting a Web site for dating amongst married couples, responsibility probably passed you about three exits ago.

I guess the above picture would have spiced up the program, though. If AshleyMadison.com is looking to make an impact, I think they picked slogan to go with, in "Who are you doing after the game?" How many guys in the stands would be picking her?

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

1-15-2009 @ 2:51PM

OrangeChuckE said...

Bacon,
Brittany wants to know how you know about this site already? haha

1-15-2009 @ 2:52PM

Shane Bacon said...

/Ducks as multiple shoes come my way

1-15-2009 @ 3:05PM

dess133 said...

thank god. i am SO sick of hearing commercials for this stupid website on the radio.

it would have been more realistic if they put a picture of an overweight, middle aged, skank on that ad.

1-16-2009 @ 7:00PM

rickcraft55 said...

Don't forget the ball bounces both ways perhaps a overweight middle aged balding man.

1-15-2009 @ 3:42PM

wanderer906 said...

Without imposing my own sense of morality I would agree that alcohol is a greater bane to society that cheating spouses. What are the annual deaths associated with infidelity, I'm willing to bet nowhere near alcohol related deaths. I think they should be allowed to advertise, if you are happy in your marriage then you have no problem, I really doubt that what is keeping Americans from cheating is the lack of knowledge of such websites. The avertising from articles like this and others that will be written is probably going to be a great help to their business. If I were them I would sue and take it as far as possible. The free press alone would be worth the effort.

1-15-2009 @ 4:01PM

danastev924 said...

Wanderer, one thing that you're forgetting is that STDs to a high degree will kill. Yes, protection is out there, but as everyone knows that is not 100% safe either, to having a child or contracting an SDT. Do yes, excessive alcohol may kill, but just one extramarital affair may do the same. And we're not talking about morals here, or the fact this if the spouse finds out, then you're out a whole heck of a lot.

1-15-2009 @ 4:15PM

Danastev, you completely miss the point. Extramarital sex has been going on as long as marriage has existed, and will go on with or without this website. If this is not about morals or so called "American Values" then what? Is this about refusing to promote activities that could lead to STDs or children? I would argue that alcohol has lead to more cheating than this site ever will.

1-18-2009 @ 8:28AM

Yes Wanderer906, alcohol has definitely lead to cheating, however you're seeming to bypass this scenario to just advertise pure sin. This to me, seems to be crossing a line. At least you had a choice before: If you made the right choice,then good for you. If you make the bad choice, its your fault. You're transporting this right to the "OK, you're going to fail, so here....". And I didn't even mention STDs, or a pretty ugly divorce (perhaps), with bad circumstances for you.

1-16-2009 @ 6:35AM

Jesus said...

This website is by far the worst idea ever. There are no words to describe the creator.

1-16-2009 @ 6:47AM

Johnnie said...

WTH is society coming to these days? I'm GLAD to see that the NFL has nixed this commercial. It's bad enough that we all had to experience Janet Jacksons nipple incident (which children DID see), and now we have people wanting to advertise infidelity too? Don't these people realize that the Super Bowl is a MAJOR family event across the nation, or do they really not care what word their spreading to our youth's? It's bad enough that we have lil girls idolizing the way cheerleaders, high profile celebritie's and models, in which some fall short of appearing "whorish", but now this.
WAKE UP AMERICA and take back control of what your child is exposed too!!

1-16-2009 @ 9:13AM

Rainer said...

Oh my God - your kids saw a nipple? On TV? Goodness gracious. They will be scarred for life!
Get a life, will you! Letting them watch movies where people get decapitated, spilling their guts, etc. is okay, but a nipple? The world just came to an end!

1-16-2009 @ 12:52PM

bbandgclub said...

I'm more than a little tired of all the ED medication advertisements during sporting events. Can't understand why there's no outrage about those.

1-16-2009 @ 7:10AM

Connor Foudy said...

The website got what they wanted. They now have a free ad.

1-16-2009 @ 7:31AM

sedonagoals said...

Well, she got just what she wanted. You've let everyone know her website. How stupid are you?

1-16-2009 @ 8:28AM

durangodrifter said...

Probably a knee-jerk reaction to the Janet Jackson incident when the FTC penalized the broadcasters ($$$ thousands), instead of the really guilty pasrties...Janet and Justin.

Worddrobe malfunction? Yeah, riiiight.

1-16-2009 @ 9:05AM

libsloveamerica said...

Apparently, the sanctity of marriage is not as important to the heterosexual population as America was led to believe.

Angela said...

The Super Bowl should be maintained as a family program. The marketing content shown in the ad above, for an adultery website, is bordering on pornography in and of itself. A knee-jerk reaction to "nipplegate"? I think not. Everyone made a stink about a nipple being accidentally exposed, but nobody seemed to notice it was caused by an act of violence and degradation against a woman... a man tearing at her breast,ripping away her clothes. Neither type of situation is acceptable, and neither one should be perpetuated by public dissemination through Super Bowl ads.

Alcohol related advertisements are another matter. Alcohol advertisements neither support, nor encourage, drunk driving, alcoholism or reckless behavior. As a matter of face, many alcohol advertisements call for people to drink responsibly. Ads do not even show people drinking alcoholic beverages. Alcohol related deaths and injuries are unacceptable, but by far, most people who indulge do so responsibly. As is common, the idea of drinking responsibly is indelibly overshadowed by the few who drink and behave irresponsibly.

1-16-2009 @ 10:05AM

ski4fun120 said...

Angie please get off your high horse. First, this ad was for the Super Bowl PROGRAMS that will be sold at the game, and presumably available through other outlets for those not fortunate enough to attend the game. So tell me how children are going to see this ad unless a parent purchases the program and leaves it out where a child can see it.

Second, by you comment you seem to imply that the "nipplegate" as you have called it was done against Janet Jacksons will. Are you really that niave???

Third, your comment that alcohol ads dont encourage or support people drinking and driving. HUH??? The purpose of the ads is to get you to drink their alcohol. The only reason they put the messages to not drink and drive and to drink responsibly is because they want you to believe they care about you. They only care about getting you to spend your money on thier product. Oh and the cigarette manufacturers are worried about you getting cancer too....NOT. And just where do you think most people drink? Judging by the amount of bars in any given area I would say it certainly isnt at home. But after partaking in their favorite beverage how do most of these people get home? They get behind the wheel of a 2000 lb weapon and drive home putting anyone in their path in danger of being hit.

1-16-2009 @ 9:46AM

darksithmilitia said...

People need to develop a sense of humor. I find all of this funny. Seems like a big joke to me. As big a joke as the current state of the institution marriage.