GoDaddy Pulls Puppy Mill Parody Super Bowl Ad

The much-anticipated Super Bowl XLIX is next Sunday and football fans are equally (well, almost) excited to tune in for 30-second spot commercials. The GoDaddy commercial, on the other hand, — or should we say paw? — will no longer be on the list of televised spots due to backlash from the failed humor the ad intended to deliver.

The Internet domain service provider received an outpour of negative comments after its 2015 Super Bowl commercial was released. Viewers follow a lost puppy, very similar to the puppy featured in Budweiser’s annual Super Bowl commercials, as he find his way back home only to be shipped out in “Gabby’s Golden” van, indicating that the owner runs a puppy mill.

The endearing puppy won over the hearts of viewers, but not in the way that GoDaddy had in mind.

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After watching the video, animal activist Helena Yurcho created a Change.org petition to have the commercial removed.

“Essentially, Go Daddy is encouraging private breeding/puppy mills while shelter animals wait patiently for their forever homes or worse – to be euthanized,” Yurcho wrote. “They are also encouraging purchasing an animal online; the animal could be sold to someone who runs a fighting ring, someone who abuses animals, or to someone who cannot adequately care for the animal. Animal rights are no laughing matter and to portray them as such is cruel and irresponsible

Over 42,000 supporters signed the online petition, which resulted in victory for the activists.

On Tuesday, Us Weekly reported that GoDaddy CEO Blake Irving took to Twitter to address the controversy. “Thank you @animalrescuers for the candid feedback. What should have been a fun and funny ad clearly missed the mark and we will not air it.”

Thank you @animalrescuers for the candid feedback. What should have been a fun and funny ad clearly missed the mark and we will not air it.

— Blake Irving (@Blakei) January 27, 2015