What’s in your wallet? (And what does your wallet say?)
Capital One is known both for its card products and the celebrities that energetically promote them. Alec Baldwin, Gordon Ramsay, Jimmy Fallon, those vikings… Samuel L. Jackson is the newest spokesman for Capital One, promoting the McLean, Va-based bank’s new cash back card, dubbed Quicksilver.
The ad mocks rewards cards that change which categories get the deepest discounts and cards that require updating every quarter to get the best rewards. Instead, Mr, Jackson says, Quicksilver gives “Unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase everywhere every damn day.” Well played, sir.
Inappropriate, unnecessary language. It’s a credit card commercial; the cursing is unacceptable.
I have heard Samuel Jackson’s commercial a few times now and not being able to get to the remote fast enough, I have heard it one too many times. Profanity is so beloved in this country these days. I walk down the street and little children use it effortlessly. Mothers and fathers speak to their children without recognizing these words have meaning. Come on Capital One. Please realize that there is a time and a place. If you are making a drug deal in the alley that is an appropriate time to use such wording or if you find someone other than yourself in the bedroom with your lover – cursing, certainly, is very acceptable…other than that! Not in a commercial!!!!!!!!!! SHAME SHAME CAPITAL ONE!!!!!!!! And quess what? – I’m a card carrying liberal.
I heard the commercial for the first time this morning. I am so glad that I am not the only one that feels this way! When did it become acceptable to speak like this in everyday situations? Songs, movies, TV, now advertising. If our children see and hear this daily, how are they ever to learn that it’s not the proper way to behave no matter what mom and dad say? I am not a Capital One customer, and now I never will be.
The use of profanity in a commercial is unnecessary and distasteful.
I agree, i am definitely not a prude but the profanity is unnecessary. As a cardholder I am disappointed.
The word “Damn” can hardly be considered profanity
So what you are basically saying is it would be ok if a teacher like myself or another adult in power used that word freely in communication with your child or other children?? Get real. It’s offensive.
Yes, it’s an unusual direction to take, that’s for sure! I haven’t seen the ad on TV, but I would assume it’s scheduled to play in the evenings?
Oh no, I saw it first thing this morning.
It just played during a scooby do movie on abc family! Very disappointing!
I saw it for the first time at 7 p.m. I hate this commercial.
You assume incorrectly. I have heard it twice during football this Sunday afternoon.
Agree completely!! I’m no prude, but I do believe in boundaries and this crosses the line for me. My pre-K teacher is now concerned that one (or more) of her little kids is going to come into the classroom parroting some of this language, “Every damn day, we do stations!”. She is already hearing “What the..” or “WTF”. What a (another) blem on society!
Capital One should pull the add…I lost respect for the company and the actor. Every day is a good day, not a d— day!!!! That’s offensive!
I couldn’t agree more. More dumbing down in my opinion. I will close my account which is in very good standing in a heartbeat. Lose the ad and I’ll stay. Easy….
Sad thing is how few people seem to care anymore.
I am sending this in the hope that you will either remove this ad because of the language or fix it whichever . I find it offensive . We should not have to hear things such as this . Our children hear enough and I wish you would do something about this and I know I’m not alone .
I agree. I heard it the other day, and could not believe what he said. Some friends said that at least it wasn’t during prime time but then, yesterday while I was at work, the commercial came on(I work at a clinic so we have families, kids, retirees) during PRIME TIME!! Guess Capital One has no sense of decency.
This advertisement is disgusting. Plays at all times so it is hard to mute before children hear it.Alex Baldwin can be a little off the wall at times but this is going to far in advertising.
The language in this commercial is offensive and unacceptable. Makes me think about giving up the card I have.
I agree, I also find Samuel Jackson language offensive, quite frankly
I was shocked the first time I heard it! You really need to use this kind
Of advertising? If so, shame on you and Mr Jackson! In my opinion
You both lowered your standards!
It’s Samuel L. Jackson, Mutha F. The Chuck Norris of “The ‘Hood”! He can do any Got Dam thing he wants. Do You think he was so broke he APPLIED for the job of doing the Capital One ad?! He’s old school, black-cop one day, black-gangsta the next, and a Mutha Lovin’ Jedi Knight. He’s large and in charge. Say, “What?” one more time. I dare ya. I double-dare ya, Mutha Lova, say “What?” one more time. “Ezekiel 25:17-‘And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers…and you will know my name is THE LORD when I lay my vengeance upon thee’…and when you heard that, that meant your azz.”
So consider yourself lucky he let fly one “damn” in a bank ad. That or we can go back to the days when even men wore tops to the beach. Your choice.
I am disgusted with the fact its a commercial and he is swearing..its bad enough they swear like crazy on tv shows, but commercials! Totally innappropriate, there are still some families that do Not like cursing as part of their lives and who try to show right and decent behavior for their kids. Shame on you Capital One, and Samuel is not the best choice anyhow to use!
It may not be a ” curse” word in certain cases, but in the context its used in in the commercial…absolutely a curse..its not ok! Come on people, these are our children and they are entrusted to us to raise them right, and its pathetic that others think its ok.
The use of profanity in a commercial is unnecessary and distasteful.
How is the use of profanity a good marketing tool to draw customer too your product.
Agreed – no need to curse in a commercial for a credit card. Way overdone!
Cursing in commercial not necessary. DUMP IT!!!!!!
I got online and found the email address for Camp One last week and sent them a complaint about the commercial. They actually responded the next day and said that they appreciated the feedback. I’ve did the same with another commercial for a different company and they pulled that commercial off tv. They must have received a lot of negative feedback to pull it. Everyone who is upset should complain directly to Capital One and any other companies that put this kind of offensive talk on tv or anywhere in the public media. I know we can’t stop everything we feel offensive, but that is the best place to start and maybe the world will take it seriously. No company likes to get direct negative feedback on their ads, but chances are,
they won’t know what we really think about this if they don’t get it directly. They most likely won’t be looking at websites and blogs to see what people think. I don’t think I should put the email address here, it was very easy to locate on their website. If we band together we could make a difference!!
I have a cap one card and plan to close it after seeing this AD!!
Sad that we’ve come to a point that they feel they can’t get their point across any other way. I wouldn’t apply for the card just because of this commercial. There is no place for cursing when children are most certainly watching…shame on you Capital One.
I have to agree with the sentiments of those who have already posted. This commercial is not aired solely during the evening hours. Parents may block certain channels or use other means to make sure their children aren’t exposed to foul language, but to have a commercial like this that airs during the daytime when children can hear it is just crass. Like others, I’m no prude and certainly have no problem hearing such language in movies and such that aren’t aimed at children, but a parent has no way to keep an impressionable child from hearing this. I hope this commercial is pulled pronto. Whoever approved this is an idiot.
To the attention of CapitalOne advertising executives:
Each time I hear the Quicksilver card ad featuring Samuel Jackson, which is “every damn day” and night, I am affronted by the inappropriateness and course nature of the ad.
With each exposure to the profane, therefore offensive ad, I renew my vow to NEVER use my CapitalOne Visa again. Please use better taste, better sensibilities, and make better use of your massive advertising budget.
C Henry
To save time and “ink’, I agree with all the comments/complaints/concerns mentioned– and then some! Which Capitol One agency and where do we go to protest,write or voice our concern? To discover what entities or persons of Capitol One are directly responsible for this ad? Also, is there a “moral code of ethics limit” that prevents companies by law from advertising such language(ESP PRIMETIME HOURS). If so,some one let me know and I WILL contact an attorney to see what legal [grounds of]action I (we) ,as a citizen(s), can take to confront this blatant,
unprofessional and distasteful tactic.This is disgusting. Maybe this ad has wakened me up to see how much moral decay Ive overly tolerated in our society and thus “promoted” by NOT doing enough to keep it underfoot.Today Ive had enough!
No Capital One for me. I’ve used it in the past but not again.
Unacceptable language used in this commercial will never use Capital One with commercials like this
I myself can appreciate the emphasis swearing can add. Samuel L Jackson can use it well and for an adult audience only I may think of this commercial as humorous. However, I too am concerned and upset at Capital One for adding unnecessary profanity to a commercial. Certain profanities may cause a movie to be a higher rating. Even though “Damn” may not be as sever as others, this is still not a word I wish for my children to use at their young age. This commercial has aired multiple times during college football today while we watched. It is rather upsetting as we have to constantly be en guarde to mute or channel the channel if the commercial pops up.
Unfortunately, I cannot do much other than write a concerned letter to them or post online. I don’t have any business I can cancel with them. I hope some people get through to them.
Absolutely inappropriate! I will promptly be cancelling my capital one card…what standards does this teach our children?
wow, I thought I was the only one who found this unnecessarily crude. especially since it airs during family events (a college football game).
Shame on both Capital One and Samuel L. Jackson…what in the world were you thinking?
I specifically checked Google this morning to see if I was the only one that felt startled every time this commercial is aired. My impression is that it sounds ghetto. Nothing like perpetuating the black gangsta image (subtle, but still…..). It also sounds angry. I am completely put off. Not shocked. Not so much worrying about moral decay or “the children” but dismayed that a brand would resort to such a tasteless approach to advertising.
I agree with most of the other people who have responded. I caught bits and pieces of the commercial one day when I heard it the first time. I thought to myself, did he really just say that? The next time it came on I paid more attention and sure enough. This is ridiculous, it is being shown during the day so kids are going to hear it. If it is something that you wouldn’t let your kids say, it shouldn’t be on a commercial that parents can’t shield their kids from because there is no warning. This is not necessary to be put in a commercial. I have capital one credit cards but will think twice now about continuing to use them.
I don’t like the use of profanity in this TV commercial. It will make me less likely to do business with Capital One.
This commercial displays just how far behind we have left our dignity and moral values. Who ever approved this ad or had anything to do with creating it should be fired. I will never use this product. It is pass time to clean up your act.
There is no need for coarse language to make the point in this commercial. I find it offensive and unprofessional. Come on, now…take the high road in promoting your product and get out of the gutter.
This commercial is unprofessional and tacky. What marketing student thought this would sell a Capital One card? Yet another reason to mute the commercials.
Is it really any worse to hear “damn” than to have to sit through Viagra and Cialis commercials? I find it much easier to explain that damn is a word they probably shouldn’t use than to try to explain what an erection is.
Poor judgment in this commercial.
Didn’t do your product any favors
by doing such a tasteless and classless commercial.