Apple has removed a new advertisement just one day after its release, marking the fourth ad withdrawn within slightly over a year, according to a report by MacRumors. The eight-minute video, titled “The Parent Presentation,” featured comedian Martin Herlihy advising students on persuading their parents to purchase a Mac.
Originally posted on Friday, the ad was taken down from YouTube and Apple’s college student webpage by Saturday. However, the accompanying 81-slide presentation template, which outlines “45 undeniable reasons why a Mac is essential to college,” remains available for download.
Apple’s recent ad removals include:
- May last year: The “Crush!” commercial, showing a hydraulic press flattening creative tools before revealing an iPad Pro, faced backlash and was pulled from TV and YouTube.
- Late 2023: “Out of Office OOO,” a 10-minute ad featuring coworkers in Thailand, was removed after criticism from Thai citizens and lawmakers regarding stereotypical portrayals.
- March 2024: An iPhone 16 ad starring Bella Ramsey demonstrating an AI-enhanced Siri with unreleased features was withdrawn.
Unlike previous cases tied to public criticism or factual inaccuracies, the removal of “The Parent Presentation” lacks a clear explanation. Some social media users labeled it “cringe” and questioned its target audience.
The Verge contacted Apple for comment but had not received a response by publication time.