Travel Site Kayak.com Pulls Ad After Complaints It ‘Borders on Elder Abuse’

Travel site Kayak.com was forced to pull a controversial TV commercial after complaints were filed with Advertising Standards Canada (ASC) claiming the ad is “bordering on elder abuse.” Kayak’s 30-second TV ad featured a middle-aged man “commandeering” his elderly mother’s home stair lift because he “can’t afford to waste a second,” including walking up a flight of stairs, searching for a good hotel deal. The man’s mother is seen clutching onto the banister, gasping for air and struggling to get up the stairs as her son passes by on the stair lift. According to the ASC, “the complaints alleged the advertisement depicted an unacceptable disregard for the welfare of an elderly person, bordering on elder abuse.” According to the ASC complaints report: “the advertiser initial response to council was that the ad was designed to portray an ‘over the top’ situation in a humorous way, and was not intended to show indifference to the issue of elder abuse.” However, the council found the commercial displayed “unacceptable depictions and portrayals” under section 14 (d) of the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards.

Source/more: Global News Canada

David Wingate is an elder law attorney who practices in Frederick and Montgomery Counties, Maryland. David Wingate’s practice includes wills, trusts, power of attorneys, livening wills, Medicaid and asset protection.