Sometimes, marketers don’t think of all the ways that their audience might take things. That’s like, our job, but really, sometimes the most simple things escape people. This sounds like what happened in the marketing team meeting at Urban Decay because they def did not mean to send out a message about cutting.
At first glance, you might not even think about self-harm, but it seems that some people took the “Razor Sharp” name along with lines across someone’s arm as a triggering message.
We’re pretty positive that they did not mean to offend their audience, especially after sending out this message.
We swatch on the inner arm to show texture & shades. We didn’t intend to reference self-harm as the product is named Razor Sharp Eyeliner.
— Urban Decay (@UrbanDecay) August 24, 2016
You could just see that as them responding to the backlash they received across social media, but we really don’t think they meant any harm. Urban is a favorite of makeup junkies and novices across the globe for a reason. That eyeliner is razor sharp, and the best way to show a color is on the inside of an arm.
However, that combo probably wasn’t UD’s best idea. Hey Urban, let’s be a *little* more careful with messaging next time, mmmkay? We’ve got your back on the intention though.
You live and you learn.
