Pornhub, Volkswagen And Other Controversial Super Bowl 2013 Commercials [VIDEO]

The Pornhub Super Bowl commercial features no bikinis, no suggestive positions and no innuendo. The commercial consists of only one scene involving an older couple. The man and woman are bundled up and sitting on a bench looking out on a small lake. The woman taps the man’s shoulder and he turns to her, the commercial fades out and the Pornhub logo appears.

Naturally, the commercial’s banning has gained it coverage, perhaps more than if it had aired. Pornhub jumped on it with a press release declaring, “Super Bowl TV network CBS has stepped up its defensive line ahead of this Sunday’s big game, blocking a proposed multi-million dollar commercial from Pornhub.com. … A CBS spokesperson offered this brief response via email to the website’s proposal: 'CBS Television Network Standards do not permit advertising related to pornography. Therefore, we cannot accept your submission.'”

Many news outlets were quick to point out the marketing ploy behind the attempt to place the ad. Simply put, a network cannot air a commercial which will be viewed by millions that will direct them to a pornographic website, even if the commercial was G-rated before the Pornhub logo was visible, notes Business Insider. And by offering an ad it knows will be refused, Pornhub is getting publicity for it without paying CBS a penny.

You can view the banned Super Bowl 2013 commercial below.

While Pornhub's ad was always going to get rejected, there are other Super Bowl commercials that have stirred  controversy. Volkswagen’s Super Bowl ad has been viewed as racist by some groups. The commercial involves a dreary office setting with downcast employees going through the motions of another day, except for one man who happens to be white and from Minnesota but sports a stereotypical Jamaican accent.

Forbes notes that Volkswagen tested the commercial with Jamaicans who approved of it, saying that the ad may be a bit in bad taste, but the stereotype is a positive one. In fact, the Jamaican government is supportive of Volkswagen’s Super Bowl spot. Tourism Minister Wykeham McNeill said in a statement, “I think this is a very creative commercial which truly taps into the tremendous appeal that brand Jamaica and its hospitable people have globally,” reports The Associated Press.  You can judge the commercial for yourself below.

Finally, supermodel Kate Upton will be starring in a Mercedes Benz commercial. As reported earlier by IBTimes, Mercedes released a teaser indicating a sexually suggestive car wash will be the focal point of the Super Bowl commercial. The concept of “sex sells” is nothing new and there will surely be some controversy surrounding a commercial involving a half-naked woman selling something during the Super Bowl. The teaser can be viewed below.

These three commercials are just the beginning of the Super Bowl 2013 commercial blitz. Expect plenty more commercial announcements and controversy when the Super Bowl airs on Sunday.