Nationwide Insurance stood by its controversial Super Bowl commercial featuring a dead kid after facing a tidal wave of criticism.
The multi-million dollar ad spot features a young boy explaining that he won't be able to grow up because he died in a household accident. The commercial then directs people to MakeSafeHappen.com, a website promoting household safety.
"The sole purpose of this message was to start a conversation, not sell insurance," Nationwide said in a statement following the outcry,
The Wall Street Journal reported. "We want to build awareness of an issue that is near and dear to all of us — the safety and well being of our children. We knew the ad would spur a variety of reactions."
"While some did not care for the ad, we hope it served to begin a dialogue to make safe happen for children everywhere."
The ad most certainly started a "dialogue," however most of it was extremely negative. Reactions on Twitter — gathered below — ranged from shocked to enraged, with many people deploying humor to help distract themselves from the sheer morbidity of the ad.
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