Toys ?R' Us ad riles anti-drug campaigners
By The Associated Press – 11/01/03
WASHINGTON (AP) – A Toys ??R'' Us television commercial, which features the company's mascot, Geoffrey the Giraffe, inhaling helium from a balloon, has drawn the ire of anti-drug campaigners who say the ad sends a dangerous message to children.
“Any portrayal of inhalant use is bad, especially when we're reaching out to younger children who are at most risk of abusing inhalants,'' Charles Curie, administrator for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, said Friday.
The ad campaign has finished its rotation and will not be introduced, Toys 'R'' Us spokeswoman Susan McLaughlin said in a statement.
“Toys ?R' Us takes the safety of our guests very seriously,'' McLaughlin said. “We would never encourage any behavior that would be dangerous in any way.''