Controversial Safaricom Advert Gets Love and Hate in Equal Measure

One thing that you expect to be in plenty on social media is opinion and this transcends from individual posts all the way to ones sent by corporations.

Now Safaricom is known locally for their interesting ads and their latest one has become quite controversial on social media, especially on Twitter.

Many have disappeared and only you can help us bring them back. Join the movement with Safaricom Home and help us #BringMenHome pic.twitter.com/P4rBZuMDjo

— Safaricom PLC (@SafaricomPLC) November 25, 2018

The basic premise of the ad starts with a ‘statistic’ that most men in Kenya are not at home during the weekend. They are instead in the clubs watching their favourite teams play while ‘missing out on their kids lives’, ‘forgetting’ their wives names and leaving their pets behind. The solution being presented by Safaricom is to get Safaricom Home Fiber to the home so that they can catch all the entertainment at home.

This ad became quite controversial on Twitter, and polarizing too, where some liked it and some did not like it.

Best ad ever, said this lady.

Best ad ever https://t.co/Sk8CslMruG

— Nadiya Aziz (@nadiya_aziz) November 26, 2018

So many questions

Wait. So what happens when all the men's side chics install Safaricom home fibre, which home will they go to? Which pets will be saved from abandonment issues? Is it the dog in home 1? Or the cat in the home 2? The mongoose in home 3? Questions, questions🤔🤔😂 https://t.co/aBTUlEMsd4

— Hi, it's me, Delve (@kaggzie) November 26, 2018

She is asking the important questions about the ad.

Does he have to be mine to begin with or I can bring home any that needs internet?
Also, how many men am I limited to?
Does he/ Do they expire like bundles?
Is he useful or just sits there using my net?
If I get tired of him, will disconnecting the internet get him to leave? https://t.co/WOyylfhgMv

— Rugi (@mercymurugi) November 26, 2018

This is going to be trouble

Lmao this is gonna be trouble. https://t.co/fxhi2iCmBy

— Ngunza kutu (@kithembe) November 26, 2018

This person has mixed feelings about it.

https://twitter.com/teamtaiwan/status/1066884156028870656

‘they are pushing the limits of product marketing’

@SafaricomPLC once again pushing the limits of product marketing through an ad. Hands down, their marketing teams must be the best there is. https://t.co/XT8EyXMlX2

— Collins Too (@CollinsToo15) November 26, 2018

Well this guy clearly knows what brings him back home

Football will bring us home not internet https://t.co/IKjGW3gvh5

— MWANGI K (@mwas_Jymes) November 26, 2018

Wait, what?

Wish these men were disappearing to go fight for wildlife..unfortunately that's not the case… https://t.co/h2LQ4D2RmD

— Severine Johnson (@Severine5554) November 26, 2018

Got to give them for their advertising

You've got it to give it up to @SafaricomPLC advertising …..

Say no more! https://t.co/PudyyhRKn6

— Kimathi Githachuri (@Githachuri) November 26, 2018

Millennial for ‘nope’

https://twitter.com/NB_Onderi/status/1067005189037658112

This guy thinks the ad campaigns have now been cheapened