Controversial sign has some raising questions.
They’re an attempt to draw you in as you’re on the go. But one Northern Michigan billboard is raising some eye-brows and leaving a bad impression.
The sign is to advertise La Senorita's Margaritas, but a few people we talked to today said when they saw the sign, they couldn't believe their eyes.
They say the sign is referencing a mass-suicide that happened in the 1970’s and it’s leaving a very bad taste in their mouth.
“I was flabbergasted, I had to read it a few times, I couldn’t believe what I was reading,” said John Ingersoll.
It’s the goal of all companies who place ads on billboards to grab the eye, but a particular one in Emmet County left a bad taste in John Ingersoll’s mouth. It’s an ad for La Senorita’s, promoting their Margaritas. It says “We’re like a cult – with better Kool-Aid to die for.”
“Me and my family are going to boycott La Senorita until that sign is removed and I would encourage others to do the same,” said Ingersoll.
Why? Ingersoll says the sign is referencing a 1978 mass-suicide in Jonestown, Guyana. 914 followers of cult-leader Jim Jones were found dead – the majority by drinking cyanide-laced Kool-Aid.
“In this particular case, we were looking at the word cult being the followers of La Senorita, are like a cult, they just love us,” said Jeff Leslie, the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for La Senorita.
Leslie says the restaurant uses humor in advertising because humor supports the brand. But for some people, like a woman who didn’t want to be identified, she said it has "very bad and haunting taste" and she’s not going to support the brand with that type of humor.
"Then this family oriented business wants to reinforce that for a marketing slogan, that’s just disgusting,” said Ingersoll.
La Senorita says there have been a few people who have expressed concern over what the sign has to say, and because of that, they'll make changes.
“To upset anybody is never our goal, and we regret we made the decision to use these ads, and in light of the response, we’re taking them down,” said Leslie.
The signs will be gone by the end of the week.
La Senorita has six restaurants: Two are in Traverse City and one each in Gaylord, Petoskey, Mt. Pleasant and Lansing.
What do you think about the sign? Does it go too far? Tell us "Your Point of View" by voting in our poll and leaving your comments.
