Super Bowl viewers blast placement of sad ‘Loretta’ Google ad about an 85-year-old man with dementia

Super Bowl viewers have been left deflated after Google debuted a new commercial that took the fun out of watching the game and star-studded entertainment.

The search engine’s 90-second ad is one of the few from Sunday that doesn’t use humor or celebrities but not everyone appreciated it according to social media.

Featuring a man reminiscing about his dead wife, Loretta, the narrative shows him using the Google Assistant feature to pull up old photos of her as well as past vacations.

One Twitter user admitted: ‘I was all hyped up until that google commercial came up #superbowl.’

The narrative shows him using the Google Assistant feature to pull up old photos of her

Super Bowl viewers have been left deflated after Google debuted a new commercial. It features the voice of an 85-year-old man reminiscing about his dead wife, Loretta. The narrative shows him using the Google Assistant feature to pull up old photos of her

One Twitter user questioned why the commercial was so sad during the football game

One Twitter user questioned why the commercial was so sad during the football game

Some viewers switched off the game altogether after the emotional commercial aired

Some viewers switched off the game altogether after the emotional commercial aired

‘Why is this google commercial so sad i’ve never met loretta why am i crying,’ a Twitter user named Emily posted.

The ad is set to an instrumental version of ‘Say Something’ by Great Big World and clearly attempts to win people over by tugging at the heartstrings.

It was a stark contrast to others played on the biggest night in advertising where it costs $5.6 million for 30 seconds of air time in a bid to reach 100 million people. 

But the juxtaposition of the commercial was criticized as it played before one from Sabra Dipping Co. that had 19 famous faces raving about chickpea dip.

Social media user Greg McCarthy wrote: ‘YOU CAN’T JUST SWITCH FROM A SAD ASS GOOGLE COMMERCIAL ABOUT A MAN REMEMBER HIS DEAD WIFE, TO RICK FLAIR YELLING ABOUT HUMMUS.’

Another Twitter account called the transition into seeing stars such as Mel B and Becky G, ’emotionally devastating to handle’.

Even celebrities shared how strongly they felt about Google’s decision to go serious for the 2020 Super Bowl ads.

Twitter users blasted Google and called the advert a 'vibe killer' during the annual event

Twitter users blasted Google and called the advert a ‘vibe killer’ during the annual event 

The surprisingly sad ad put a dampener on sports fans' moods Sunday night

The surprisingly sad ad put a dampener on sports fans’ moods Sunday night

Kumail Nanjiani tweeted: ‘2020. The year I cried at a google commercial.’ Musician Rob Thomas said it ‘brought out real tears’.

But Canadian actor and Arrow star Stephen Amell was less impressed.

He wrote: ‘Great work Google. Your 90 second commercial about gut-wrenching, life altering loss was just what the doctor ordered. Dicks.

Google has called the ad ‘a love story about the moments that matter most, told with a little help from Google’.

But other viewed it as the tech giant trying to shift negative views of how they use people’s data, which they often use for big money advertising deals.

‘Really loving the lighthearted google commercial about how google knows everything we’ve ever done,’ Kashana Cauley wrote online.

Another wrote: ‘The saddest part of the Google commercial was the part where all of Loretta’s data was sold to advertisers.’

Some viewers thought it was inappropriate to have the commercial followed by an upbeat one about hummus

Some viewers thought it was inappropriate to have the commercial followed by an upbeat one about hummus

One account called the transition into seeing stars such as Mel B and Becky G, 'emotionally devastating to handle'

One account called the transition into seeing stars such as Mel B and Becky G, ’emotionally devastating to handle’

Others were confused about what Google was advertising as they promoted Google Assistant - a feature pulls up old photos and other memories

Others were confused about what Google was advertising as they promoted Google Assistant – a feature pulls up old photos and other memories

Others called Google out for trying to shift attention away from how the search engine remembers user information in order to sell advertising

Others called Google out for trying to shift attention away from how the search engine remembers user information in order to sell advertising

Some experts applauded the move from Google.

‘It´s so hard to write earnestly and not make it cheesy,’ said Julia Neumann, executive creative director at ad agency TBWA/Chiat/Day in New York. ‘This was really, really well done.’

Google has said the ad was inspired by real people. 

Kristian Kastner Warpinski said it was based on her grandfather who is 85 and has dementia.

‘My deceased grandma is #Loretta, and her husband Bill (the sweetest grandpa ever) has severe dementia,’ Warpinski tweeted. 

‘He often forgets she’s even passed away, which is incredibly tragic… But he talks about her often, and always with love. I’m in tears. Good job #google. #SuperBowlCommercials’

But many viewers showed appreciation for Google's take on a Super Bowl ad

But many viewers showed appreciation for Google’s take on a Super Bowl ad

Even celebrities were moved to tears: Rob Thomas was among those who tweeted about it

Even celebrities were moved to tears: Rob Thomas was among those who tweeted about it

But actor Stephen Amell was one star who did not appreciate the switch in tone during programming

But actor Stephen Amell was one star who did not appreciate the switch in tone during programming

Kristian Kastner Warpinski said it was based on her grandfather who is 85 and has dementia

Kristian Kastner Warpinski said it was based on her grandfather who is 85 and has dementia

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