Oh Sony, you and your international PR disasters!
You’ve all doubtless seen Sony’s new ad campaign that pokes fun at bloggers and Internet rumors. If you haven’t, then Nigeria certainly has, and it’s decided to be offended at Sony’s use of the line, “You can’t believe everything you read on the Internet. Otherwise, I’d be a Nigerian millionaire by now.”
Of course, the line is a reference to one of the most famous grifts of all time, the “Nigerian Letter.” We’ve all seen those emails where a supposedly rich man wants to transfer funds into your account from another country (traditionally Nigeria) and cut you in for a slice of his savings, provided he takes your bank details first. It’s a stupid con, and one of the oldest of all time. Yet because people have nothing better to do, Nigerian officials made themselves upset.
“Nigeria remains a major investment destination and a country where most businesses thrive in trust, good faith, competence and integrity,” rages Minister of Information and Communication Prof Dora Akunyili. “Nigeria also demands an unconditional apology from Sony Corporation for this deliberate negative campaign against the country’s image and reputation.
“The apology must be given the same measure of publicity by Sony Corporation in all channels where the unfortunate adverts were aired.”
Seriously.
I wish people would grow up and learn to accept a harmless joke as a harmless joke. Sony clearly was making fun of a very real, very famous scam. Nigeria should demand an apology from the people who sent the emails in the first place, not from Sony. Mind you, a public apology could make for some brilliant new marketing.
