Confession time: Panty liner ads aren't real

TODAY.com's Kyle Michael Miller takes a look at Bodyform's response to a Facebook ranter.

Richard Neill almost certainly thought he was the wittier one.

Last week, he took to Facebook to rant sarcastically that a British feminine hygiene company had lied to him with all those commercials implying that getting one’s period is just an excuse for a series of joyful adventures.

Bodyform, the British company that makes the panty liners in question, showed him that they could not only take the criticism, they could do him one better.

On Tuesday, Bodyform posted a parody video of its own on YouTube and Facebook. In it, the company’s fake CEO apologized and fessed up about all those joyful feminine hygiene commercials.

“What you’ve seen in our advertisements so far isn’t a factual representation of events. You’re right. The flagrant use of visualizations such as sky diving, roller blading and mountain biking  - you forgot horse riding Richard – are actually metaphors. They’re not real,” the faux CEO, who they dubbed Caroline Williams, intones somberly. “I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this, but there’s no such thing as a happy period.”

The post came a few days after Neill’s rant went viral, prompting more than 84,000 Facebook “likes” and thousands of comments along the lines of “love this.”

In it, Neill opines that he grew up being jealous of all these women who got to spend their periods bike riding, dancing, parachuting and the like. Then, he said, he was faced with the reality of that time of the month when he “got a girlfriend.”

“There was no joy, no extreme sports, no blue water spilling over wings and no rocking soundtrack oh no no no,” he wrote.

Bodyform responded: “If Facebook had a ‘love’ button, we'd have clicked it. But it doesn't. So we've made Richard a video instead.”

Tim Calkins, a clinical professor marketing at Northwestern University, said the parody video response is exactly the type of marketing more companies need to be doing. He lauded the company for taking the risk of being funny and a bit edgy.

“The reason it works is it just feels very sort of real in that the company is listening and they’re responding and they have a sense of humor, but they also stick up for themselves,” Calkins said.

He noted that it’s also a world away from traditional marketing, in which companies may spend months carefully crafting messages and coming up with advertising campaigns.

“This, though, is an example of a company that’s building its brand but doing so in a way that is timely and authentic and funny,” he said.

Bodyform, which is based in the United Kingdom, was not able to comment as of press time. You can watch the full video on YouTube.

People.com
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Discuss this post

As usual there is a button missing, there should be one for "who gives a flip?"

  • 3 votes
Reply#1 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 12:05 PM EDT

Come on guys !!

We already know their claims are false. It is election season. Just look at all the crap around. Politicians are known for spreading manure all over the place. No brain-er--- their panty liners have holes in them.

  • 1 vote
#1.1 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 4:10 PM EDT

computerbozo has hit the proverbial nail on the proverbial head.

  • 1 vote
#1.2 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 4:44 PM EDT

why'd you bother to click on the article and read it then? And to boot you commented.

  • 2 votes
#1.3 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 7:22 PM EDT

Because it's an opinion board. Although you don't like it, it's still an opinion. Yet you made no comment about the article. Interesting.

  • 1 vote
#1.4 - Thu Oct 18, 2012 7:47 AM EDT
Reply

You must, since you were the first to reply to the article.

Loved the video!

  • 9 votes
Reply#2 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 12:55 PM EDT

actually I would have pushed that one too except I do not give a flip to do even that. The only reason I am posting this is sheer boredom and support for Compbozo

oh, and to not give a flip (almost forgot except I don....-you get the idea)

    #2.1 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 1:03 PM EDT

    I think you all can quit dissing the poor guy. I'm guessing he was being satirical after a row with his GIRLFRIEND. There is not wife or kids involved yet.

    Just wait until he gets those. He'll really be ranting. lol

      #2.2 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 3:33 PM EDT

      somebefuddledperson, or wait until his girlfriend misses her period!

        #2.3 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 11:17 PM EDT
        Reply

        The guy is a loser if he genuinely thought that feminine hygiene products lead to skydiving, etc and happy periods.

        Love the response from the company.

          Reply#3 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 1:01 PM EDT

          I think he was being facetious, mb.

          • 6 votes
          #3.1 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 2:08 PM EDT
          Reply

          hmm pretty sure i voted I love it, but it shows as I hate it... whatever, buttons....

            Reply#4 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 1:03 PM EDT

            Yay for birth control that turns your period off!!!! :)

            • 2 votes
            Reply#5 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 1:18 PM EDT

            Absolutely brilliant!!!

              Reply#6 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 2:30 PM EDT

              Absolutely brilliant!!!

                Reply#7 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 2:30 PM EDT

                Sorry 'puter wigged out!

                • 2 votes
                Reply#8 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 2:30 PM EDT

                Actually it would be a whole lot better to leave femine products off TV unless late at nite. Take off the mens ED commercials too..Nobody wants to see them and too many kids ask too many questions !!!

                • 3 votes
                Reply#9 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 2:37 PM EDT

                 too many kids ask too many questions !!!

                Just tell them what you always do: The stork brought them.

                Or you could beat them if they bring up something "dirty".

                That's the best way to keep them ignorant.

                • 5 votes
                #9.1 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 3:15 PM EDT

                The ED commercials totally crack me up. "Look at me! I drive a way cool collectors vehicle, or walk on the beach...wait wait, I need a woody." Just hit the mute button mom/dad. But you might want to start thinking about having "The Conversation" soon. And they probably know more then you do these days.

                • 3 votes
                #9.2 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 3:54 PM EDT
                Reply

                I'm so glad to be a guy!

                • 1 vote
                Reply#10 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 2:43 PM EDT

                HAHAHA - I bet you are. But Depends could still be in your future even if you are a guy. That is true, for all of us.

                • 2 votes
                #10.1 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 3:49 PM EDT
                Reply

                the real joke would have been to have Emily as the spokeperson, don't you think? I would have had a good laugh at that!

                  Reply#11 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 3:19 PM EDT

                  There's no such thing as truth in advertising, never has been, never will be! This guy has to be pretty gullible. I have a sister that we named Gulp, short for gullible. Her boy friend once convinced her that all guys had periods too. LMAO

                  • 1 vote
                  Reply#12 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 4:07 PM EDT

                  I believe he was just being funny and didn't really think that Bear. It's an old bit done by some comedian I can't remember.

                  • 3 votes
                  #12.1 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 5:31 PM EDT
                  Reply

                  Brilliant! Leave it to the Brits to come up with this! Video is a riot!

                  • 1 vote
                  Reply#13 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 5:24 PM EDT

                  “I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this, but there’s no such thing as a happy period.”

                  Sorry to tell you all men already know about the once a month monster. Never trust anything that bleeds for a week and doesn't die.

                  • 1 vote
                  Reply#14 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 5:51 PM EDT

                  you must be 12.

                  • 3 votes
                  #14.1 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 7:24 PM EDT

                  Well look who's "friend" arrived!

                  • 1 vote
                  #14.2 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 11:07 PM EDT
                  Reply

                  I could care less if the panty liner is real or not. I look at the nice ass displayed y hot babes. If it is that time of the month and they still show an nice butt all the better,

                  Another way to get me to watch commercials is for these bqbes to show lots of breasts, the more the better.

                  • 1 vote
                  Reply#15 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 7:30 PM EDT

                  Why is this a headline story in North America?

                    Reply#16 - Wed Oct 17, 2012 9:24 PM EDT

                    Only an idiot would think that men are really "in charge" of anything. They just write themselves bigger checks. Yeah I like a company with a sense of humor. Maybe now someone will concentrate on solving the problem of the period before the period, or was it after? Maybe before, after and during? dolnb

                      Reply#17 - Thu Oct 18, 2012 6:41 AM EDT
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