So this has been bothering me for a while. Before I start I will make the statement that I like Robert Deniro as an actor and have nothing personal against him. I also have an American Express card and make good use of it. But the invoking of 911 in the
Deniro American Express commercial crosses the line.
I am not sure if this commercial is running nationwide or just in NYC area, but I think we all need to stop short when a major corporation starts using the WTC tragedy in an advertisement. In this spot Deniro does the voiceover with melancholic music in the background, using brief statements with NYC scenes (i.e. My City, My Card). At around 48 secs into the spot we see a shot of firefighters outside a fire station, then of Deniro making a sad face, he says "My Heartbreak", and we see a brief ariel of the WTC site, with a quick shot off the ground zero viewing platform.
Now the ad is clearly tastefully done, invokes some sadness and sympathy, but lets not forget that Amex is SELLING something! This was a heartbreak. That heartbreak affected all of us in NYC as well as in the country, and likely affected Bobby Deniro as well. However, our feelings regarding 911 should not be taken advantage of in a shameless attempt to make people feel sympathetic when they think of their American Express card.
So take the poll below - am I overreacting? Maybe, but I think it is a slippery slope once we start letting corporations slide on using an American tragedy in an advertisement, no matter how tastefully it may be handled.