[UPDATE] Dr. Pepper Pisses off Pretty Much Everyone with "Man'Ments"

Great marketing move, Dr. Pepper. What was that doctorate in again? Definitely not advertising, because you would've learned that it doesn't do much to grow your brand when you alienate more than half of the buying public.

Dr. Pepper has released a new advertising campaign for its "Dr. Pepper 10" - a 10-calorie version of the soda that is definitely not diet and definitely not for wussies. The campaign is centered around stupid facebook ads. One ad includes the words "It's not for women" and asks "are you man enough for the can?"

One of the ads, which we had to "like" Dr. Pepper on Facebook to get (forgive us) includes the 10 "man-ments." Here are some.

- THOU SHALT NOT OMG.
- THOU SHALT NOT PUCKER UP.
- THOU SHALT NOT POST PICS OF YOUR OUTFIT.
- THOU SHALT NOT POST FURRY ANIMAL VIDEOS.
- THOU SHALT NOT UNTAG UNFLATTERING PICS.
- THOU SHALT NOT END A COMMENT WITH A =)
- THOU SHALT NOT MAKE A FACEBOOK PROFILE FOR YOUR PET.

So, wait, we were wrong. They didn't just piss off all women - they pissed off all but the most stolid, boring, unsmiling, pet-free, kiss-free, fashion-free men who like seeing themselves in ugly photos. That should leave a good, solid 20 percent of the buying public. Have fun with that, DP. If you want some fun in your day, read the facebook comments.

Even better, folks - now you can watch the Television ad for this wonderful product. Thanks to Consumerist, who brought this to our attention.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@chicagoist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Anthony Todd in Food on October 11, 2011 2:20 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

Cokeforme

The first time I watched this, I tried not to be offended. Seriously, my hubby of 19+ years and I first met over a fart joke. I love to laugh. I understand what they were trying to accomplish, but I still can not help but be offended. I have watched it 4 times.....still ticked. This is one woman who will not try ANY Dr. Pepper. Not because of this ad, I am a Coke a cola drinker. Now that is a drink for anyone!

Rudypeev

Dr. Pepper could recapture some of their market by publicly apologizing to all the diabetic guys out there who not only enjoy, but rely for medical reasons on the diet version of their refreshing cola.

Frank J Schneider

The
Diet Soda for Insecure Guys who Just Cannot Order or Drink a "Diet
Soda" with the Name "Diet" in it's Name! Sorry Guys But Coke Zero,
Pepsi One, Dr Pepper 10 & Any "Low Calorie" or "No Calorie" Beverage
is "DIET" & That's Okay! ...It Really IS!!!! BTW OMG!
Doing Everything In This "Man'Ments" List Is OKAY Too! =)

Nicholas

Of course, the fact that Dr. Pepper tastes like carbonated prune juice is probably not helping either.

JimTheBeerGuy

Is it just me or does "are you man enough for the can?" sound, amidst all the protests-too-much chest-beating, like a not-wholly-unexpected invitation to anal sex?

Mimihaha

This is just sad.

Ingridz

Maybe because I used to work in the advertising business and I can just totally visualize what went into making this campaign and I'm immune. Or maybe it's just that the ad itself is so stupid...but it just doesn't offend me. It's lame. It's beyond lame...but then again, when has Dr. Pepper ever had good branding or ads?
I don't drink soda but rarely(and when I say rarely, I mean twice a year maybe)..and when I do, it's usually a Dr. Pepper. I do like it...but even when I was a little kid I thought that the Dr. Pepper ads were stupid. I can't even remember that song...soemthing about I'm a pepper, you're a pepper? I don't know. But, I still remember Coke commercials "I'd like to teach the world to sing, in perfect harmony....I"d like to buy the world a Coke......"
Dr. Pepper is just all over the place. They have no brand, no identity. They should hire the agency that does the Target campaigns.
Anyway, this commercial, to me, is just too stupid to be offensive. I think that as women, we have a lot more on our plates to deal with than spending time being angry about a ridiculous Dr. Pepper commercial. I mean, there are women in Saudi Arabia getting caned for having the audacity to drive a car. Girls are still having their genitals mutilated and even in this country, we turn a blind eye when 'honor killings' happen because they happen in areas where ethnic minorities live.
Let this campaign just die like it will, on its own, and spend our time on more important things.

csc3

i didn't realize drinking soda makes one "manly" or "girly"

Tafter

You will be judged by every product you buy. Your soda, your computer, your car, your house, your shoes, your shampoo...everything. But above all else: your toilet paper. Charmin is for women and little girls. Real men use Cottenelle.

jongraef

My gimmick soda brand can beat up your gimmick soda brand.

valiumaphrodite

This is almost as grating as the Miller Lite LEAST MANLY MOMENT (all caps make it manly, see?) commercials I have to endure during every sports game. I didn't realize it was manlier to drink one flavorless beer over the other.

snoopoz

Don't worry, friends. It gets better. Like in 3 weeks, when this brand gets discontinued.

LogopolisMike

As their old slogan used to go, Diet Dr. Pepper DOES taste like regular Dr. Pepper. So I can't imagine why they'd mess that up with a new formula.

Also, the only men I've ever heard feel less manly for drinking a diet soda in the last 15 years have been insecure gay men. In fact, if anything, straight male co-workers give me grief about my (not so but not always not so) fat ass drinking soda with calories.

But I'm just an emoticon-using homo so apparently I've got no idea what it means to be a man.

Lisa White

While in Austin, TX this year I tried this Dr. Pepper 10 (it was their test market) and there was nothing special or manly about it. Tasted like the diet version, just a little more flat. Meh.