Pop-Culture | Posted by Reba R on 11/3/2009
Noooo Daddy…
Go Daddy.com has been known for its risque and sexist commercials, generally about busty women who’s tank top straps break in inappropriate places. The one commercial that really made me sick was shown during the 2009 Superbowl featuring Danica Patrick. Danica, in case you didn’t know, is the first female to win an Indy car race, as well as being a supermodel and a “Go Daddy Girl.” In this particular commercial, Danica is shown taking a shower under the control of three male college students (who, by the way, are a pretty bad representation for guys; come on guys, we know you aren’t really sloppy horndogs who get off on male supremacy…well…).
By the way, this degrading commercial has pretty much nothing to do with selling internet domain names. I decided to email GoDaddy’s support team, asking if their domain names can really give you the gift of mind control. Their first response?
Dear Customer, what do you mean by “controlling supermodels?”
After clarifying, their next response was just as clever:
Dear Customer, We sell domain names, hosting, and e-commerce tools.
Wow, maybe I was wrong about the morons in the commercial? Apparently it’s only the guys I know who have some semblance of intelligence. Feedback here?
In defense of the commercial, the online version (the one the speak of when they say “Shocking Conclusion!” and “Web Content Unrated!”) shows the women getting back at the frat guys by
controlling them instead. Still, the entire concept of gender controlling gender is so absurd that it shouldn’t be used in a Superbowl commercial. Come on Go Daddy, wise up and stop being so
gosh darn sexist.
(9 votes, average: 4.67 out of 5)
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Read other posts about: Danica Patrick, GoDaddy.com, sexism in advertising
Post Your Comment
Amy CT @ at 2:46 pm, November 3rd, 2009
Wow. This kind of thing makes me glad for the Advertising Standards Authority in Britain, which I’m pretty sure wouldn’t allow that to run.
Geez.
Toongrrl @ at 3:38 pm, November 3rd, 2009
Dammit Amy!! You’ve made me want to move to London!!!
Maria D @ at 7:04 pm, November 3rd, 2009
You should want to move to London anyway. It’s awesome there. The tv is much better and more entertaining imho.
Sheridan T @ at 8:36 pm, November 3rd, 2009
Terrible. Reminds me of the Carl’s Jr commercials.
Steph @ at 10:08 pm, November 3rd, 2009
No, don’t move to London – move to Vancouver! It’s an AWESOME city. VANCOUVER. My woman controlling website skills demand it.
GoDaddy always have sexist commercials – it’s their shtick. But that sucks about the responses – they should really be better equipped to answer that question.
Amy CT @ at 11:27 am, November 4th, 2009
They clearly weren’t expecting anyone to ever respond to it, though, were they? Which, to be fair, might be almost as bad as them having run it at all…
Toongrrl @ at 12:51 pm, November 4th, 2009
Maria D, you’ve got it!!
Ruthie G @ at 4:14 pm, November 4th, 2009
London has better tv than the states? Having lived in Britain all my life I can safely say I’m astonished. Although the preschool kid’s shows are really good. *High quality re-run of Play Days starts in my head*
But as a Scot, I have to say move to Edinburgh. We get the biggest arts festival in Europe every summer! This year there was a show where you got free hot chocolate. People were handing out leaflets in dressing gowns. And there was one about the Scottish suffrage movement, especially the Edinburgh action. I could probably go on about this all day…
Jenna @ at 4:20 pm, November 4th, 2009
You know how everyone thinks that ads from the 50s were super-sexist? How awful it was that women were relegating themselves to the kitchen, that all women were capable of selling was boxed cake mix or whatever? How creepy it was that they could smile and say through shut teeth, “Betty Crocker’s is best!”?
Um, yeah. At least they were wearing clothes. Maybe it made girls come off as a little dull and boring, but this makes us look like sex objects. Frankly, I’d rather be fully clothed selling stupid crap than naked selling technology.
Also shame on Danica Patrick for doing this. I can’t believe women actually want to do this. It’s not only degrading the girls in the commercials, it’s degrading every woman everywhere.
selects @ at 4:56 am, November 5th, 2009
Totally agree with you, jenna. the fact that women continue to exploit themselves perplexes me, i can’t comprehend why you would willingly objectify yourself, and in turn degrade all other women.
kenzi @ at 8:20 am, November 6th, 2009
they do make us come off as sex objects, but also as if we do nothing but hang out with other “hot” women all day and pamper ourselves, whether it be showering or what ever. like we’re not busy WORKING or learning or having hobbies.
rebareis @ at 11:12 pm, November 9th, 2009
Yes, Danica was really given a good position to help with the de-objectification of women… and she blew it. Fail. And I don’t know about you guys, but since women consist of half the population, I don’t understand why you would objectify them to sell a product. Surprisingly enough, naked supermodels would not make me want to buy something. Unless those naked supermodels were being shown being verbally assaulted by a feminist.
A @ at 4:43 pm, October 4th, 2010
@ Jenna- I agree!