HARLEM — A Manhattan-based liquor manufacturer kicked off the holidays on a sour note with a billboard along the West Side Highway that struck some as anti-Semitic and got the attention of Anti-Defamation League.
The Wódka brand vodka ad featured two dogs, a Chihuahua dressed in a Santa Claus hat and an Afghan hound in a yarmulke, with a message that read: “Christmas Quality. Hanukkah Pricing.”
The company, based in the Flatiron District, yanked its billboard overlooking the busy road by 4 p.m., less than 24 hours after erecting it.
Officials from the Anti-Defamation League called the billboard “crude and offensive” and said it played on a stereotype that Jewish people are frugal. ADL officials said they were pleased the company quickly removed the advertisement.
“We welcome the response of Wódka vodka, and are glad that they were sensitive to our concerns and the concerns of the many New Yorkers who were offended by this advertisement,” said Ron Meier, ADL’s New York Regional Director. “The company acted quickly and appropriately in recognizing that the billboard was offensive to many and should be removed.”
Representatives from Wódka did not immediately return calls for comment, but did tweet an apology close to the time the billboard was removed.
“Although rarely serious, we apologize to anyone we may have offended through our holiday campaign and are removing our billboard immediately,” the tweet said.
Previous Wódka advertising campaign have raised eyebrows in the past with what some say are questionable taglines such as “Hamptons quality. Newark pricing." and "Escort quality. Hooker pricing."
Some said they were suspicious of the motives behind the over-the-top campaign.
"I think this is part of their national strategy," wrote Washington Heights resident Jennifer DePriest on her Facebook page. "Offend a few people, get a lot of free press, reap profits from anti-Semites, haters of so-called political correctness, lovers of cheap things, etc."
