Bloomingdale’s Apologizes for Ad Criticized for Encouraging Date Rape

Retail giant Bloomingdale’s has apologized for a print advertisement that is being criticized for appearing to encourage date rape.

The advertisement, currently running in the department store’s holiday brochures, depicts a well-dressed man casting a sneaky glance at a woman laughing beside him. The copy: “Spike your best friend’s egg nog when they’re not looking.”

The ad drew swift condemnation on social media:

Or don't and quit being a creep… #Bloomingdales pic.twitter.com/Liu8DKMMnP

— Kristen Alderson (@krisalderson) November 10, 2015

https://twitter.com/Lyndsay_Kirkham/status/664509213079674883

https://twitter.com/DrJackMonroe/status/664449495560753152

burn down your local bloomingdale's when they're not looking pic.twitter.com/ZbD2dCdLZF

— https://www.patreon.com/olgalexell (@runolgarun) November 10, 2015

Bloomingdale’s quickly issued an apology for the ad: “We heard your feedback about our catalog copy, which was inappropriate and in poor taste. Bloomingdale’s sincerely apologizes.” In an official statement, the company blamed an “error in judgement” for releasing the ad.

Unfortunately for the retailer, the ad has already been included in thousands of holiday brochures sent out to customers, so there is little it can do other than wait out the criticism.