• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Compare The Market Pulls Meerkat Ads From TV News After Ukraine Invasion

Home> News

Published 16:31 28 Feb 2022 GMT

Compare The Market Pulls Meerkat Ads From TV News After Ukraine Invasion

The company has stressed that the meerkats are 'fictional' and are 'not associated with Russia'

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

Compare the Market is ensuring its adverts - featuring its meerkat mascots - won’t be aired during news bulletins following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

The price comparison site has said its adverts, which currently feature CGI anthropomorphic Russian meerkat Aleksandr Orlov, won’t air during a time that people may see images of the ongoing conflict. 

Compare the Market, which is owned by financial services firm BGL, announced it was reviewing its media strategy as it wants to remain ‘sensitive’ to the current situation. 

comparethemarket.com

Advert

In a statement to the Telegraph, Compare the Market said: "The meerkats are fictional characters and not associated with Russia and the current situation. 

“But we're looking at our marketing to make sure we're being sensitive and it doesn't show up in inappropriate places."

Orlav - voiced by Simon Greenall and known for his ‘simples’ catchphrase - is a billionaire meerkat from Moscow; alongside Orlav various other characters have been introduced in the marketing campaign including Sergei and baby Oleg. As well as featuring in the advert, the characters were released as plush toys available to customers and Orlav even released a book - A Simples Life: The Life and Times of Aleksandr Orlov. 

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has seen numerous companies have to review their branding and marketing plans. 

US restaurant chain Applebees had to apologise and hastily pull its adverts off CNN after it was shown during live coverage of the invasion. 

Advert

Twitter

The light-hearted advert aired on Thursday morning, promoting five wings for $1 with the purchase of a burger, while live scenes from Kyiv were still being shown at the bottom of the screen. 

An Applebees spokesperson told Forbes: “We are deeply concerned about the situation in Ukraine. When we were made aware that our ad was placed in this manner, we immediately reached out to CNN to pause our advertising on their network. 

“It never should have aired, and we are disappointed in the actions of the network.”

Meanwhile, shops and bars across the US and Canada have been pouring away Russian vodka in a show of solidarity.

Advert

In Ontario, the Liquor Control Board Of Ontario was ordered to withdraw all Russian products, including Russian Standard Original Vodka, Beluga Noble Russian Vodka and Stoli Vodka.

Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy said in a statement: "Ontario joins Canada's allies in condemning the Russian government's act of aggression against the Ukrainian people and we strongly support the federal government's efforts to sanction the Russian government.

"The people of Ontario will always stand against tyranny and oppression."

If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information.


Featured Image Credit: comparethemeerkat.com

Topics: Ukraine

Claire Reid
Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

4 hours ago
6 hours ago
  • 4 hours ago

    Jurors reach partial verdict in Sean 'Diddy' Combs sex-trafficking trial

    The jury reached a partial verdict after more than 12 hours of deliberations, following weeks of disturbing testimony.

    News
  • 6 hours ago

    Archaeologists make 90 metre long Ancient Roman discovery buried on the ocean floor

    Divers excavated something in Italy that could reveal Roman-era secrets

    News
  • 6 hours ago

    'Worst shark attack ever' saw desperate crew feed dead to sharks as they circled in bloodbath

    If you've seen Jaws, then you'll know about this

    News
  • 6 hours ago

    'Infuriated' swingers speak out on the impact Diddy's 'freak-off' parties had on community

    Sean 'Diddy' Combs' lawyers caused an outcry in the swinging community

    News
  • Wetherspoon Pulls Russian Lager From Sale Because Of Ukraine Invasion
  • Russia Thinks The World Will 'Get Over' Their Invasion Of Ukraine
  • Apple Halts Product Sales In Russia Over Ukraine Invasion
  • Five Countries Refuse To Condemn Russia’s Invasion Of Ukraine At The United Nations