Netflix forced to pull 'disgusting' dismembered finger ad promoting new Drew Barrymore zombie series 'Santa Clarita Diet'
Saeed Adyani / Netflix
The ad campaign depicted a cut up finger sprinkled with curry, in the style of a German currywurst dish.
The streaming service even set up currywurst stands around Berlin to promote the new series, which stars Drew Barrymore as a flesh-eating zombie.
The Deutscher Werberat, the German advertising regulator, received more 50 complaints about the campaign. As is standard procedure, the Werberat made Netflix aware of the complaints. The streaming service took the initiative and immediately stopped the campaign.
A spokesperson from the Deutscher Werberat told Business Insider complaints alleged the ad was "offensive to children and young people, fear-evoking, and disgusting."
The Deutscher Werberat can't force an advertiser to stop a campaign - it can only make the advertiser aware of complaints and its strictest sanction is to publicly state complaints have been raised.
Netflix did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Genius #netflix #santaclaritadiet #berlin #currywurst #potsdamerplatz #advertising #tvs… https://t.co/uwxxIRUPwk pic.twitter.com/wvh9vEjjJw
- Verytte (@Verytte_) February 16, 2017
heute mal ne diet :-) #santaclarita #netflix #boulevard #berlin #gratis #superaktion pic.twitter.com/IHQgSEppb1
- Britta (@BerlinBritta) February 18, 2017
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