Energy company forced to pull ‘culturally insensitive’ TV advert and issue apology to Mexico 

Australian ad is pulled after Mexican ambassador blasts it as ‘demeaning’ but the ‘offensive’ aspect might elude viewers

  • Momentum Energy released ‘Less Hassle More Hustle’ TV commercial in January
  • Ad ran across multiple digital platforms and cinemas and received backlash
  • The company received complaint from Ambassador of Mexico to Australia
  • The ad has since been taken down and the company issued a grovelling apology 

An energy company was forced to pull its ‘demeaning and culturally insensitive’ TV advertisement and issued a grovelling apology to Mexico.

Momentum Energy, an Australian energy company owned by Hydro Tasmania, released its ‘Less Hassle More Hustle’ TV commercial in January.

The ad ran across multiple digital platforms and cinemas in February and received widespread backlash from viewers on the company’s Facebook page. 

The company was forced to pull the ad which shows a group of people enjoying dinner when one of the dinner guests starts talking in Spanish halfway with Jarabe Tapatío, a Mexican folk tune, playing in the background. 

The ad ran across multiple digital platforms and cinemas in February and received a wide backlash from viewers on the company’s Facebook page (pictured ad)

Momentum received a complaint on their Facebook page from the Ambassador of Mexico to Australia Eduardo Peña Haller (pictured ad)

Momentum received a complaint on their Facebook page from the Ambassador of Mexico to Australia Eduardo Peña Haller (pictured ad)

Momentum received a complaint on their Facebook page from the Ambassador of Mexico to Australia Eduardo Peña Haller, who expressed his disappointment at the ad, requesting it be taken down. 

Poll

Do you think the ad is ‘demeaning and culturally insensitive’?

  • Yes 1 votes
  • No 5 votes
  • Unsure 0 votes

‘As Ambassador of Mexico to Australia, I write to express my deep disappointment in regard to your recently launched campaign ”Less Hassle More Hustle”, specifically its TV ad,’  he wrote.

‘While we do understand the appeal of humour in advertisement, we find the association of a Mexican traditional folk tune (Jarabe Tapatío) with negative connotations demeaning and culturally insensitive.

‘Over seven thousand Mexican-born nationals currently reside in Australia, according to the latest census, a vibrant and mostly young community formed by very hard-working and well-qualified people. Some of them have written to us to express their concern regarding your publicity, which they find personally offensive.

‘We kindly ask for this campaign to be rescinded and for an apology to be issued to the members of the Mexican community in Australia.’

Momentum's managing director Amy Child's apologised to Mr Haller and to the Mexican community (pictured ad)

Momentum’s managing director Amy Child’s apologised to Mr Haller and to the Mexican community (pictured ad)

Momentum’s managing director Amy Child’s apologised to Mr Haller and to the Mexican community.   

‘Your Excellency, it was never our intention to upset or disrespect any member of the community and I’m very sorry that we have done so,’ Ms Childs wrote.

‘I offer my sincere and unreserved apology to the entire Mexican community of Australia, and personally to you as the representative of your government in Australia.’

Ms Childs also apologised personally to all individuals who complained.  

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk