Apple apologizes for maligned iPad Pro 'Crush!' ad

Apple has also scrapped plans to run the ad on television.

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Apple’s announcement of its new iPad Pro model was met with some unexpected backlash due to the ad used to reveal it. Titled “Crush!,” the ad depicts several instruments, tools, and devices being crushed by a hydraulic press, a visual metaphor that didn’t land with a lot of spectators. Apple has now issued an apology for the ad, and says it no longer plans to run it on television.

Apple provided an apology in a statement to AdAge. “Creativity is in our DNA at Apple, and it’s incredibly important to us to design products that empower creatives all over the world,” said Tor Myhren, Apple’s VP of marketing communications. “Our goal is to always celebrate the myriad of ways users express themselves and bring their ideas to life through iPad. We missed the mark with this video, and we’re sorry.”

Apple CEO Tim Cook’s tweet containing the controversial ad currently sits at 57.4 million impressions, with many of the replies criticizing the ad for its depiction of the destruction of human tools used for creativity. “I felt sad when I saw creative tools such as musical instruments and cameras being destroyed,” wrote X/Twitter user @Takuta, whose reply has a million impressions of its own.

In the ad, various tools and devices (piano, paint, drums, etc.) are slowly crushed with a hydraulic press, eventually revealing the new iPad Pro left in the wake of the destruction. The new iPad Pro model, which packs the M4 chip, is Apple’s thinnest product ever.

Be sure to bookmark our Apple topic page as we frequently cover any announcements and news surrounding the tech giant.

News Editor

Donovan is a journalist from Maryland. His oldest gaming memory is playing Pajama Sam on his mom's desktop during weekends. Pokémon Emerald, Halo 2, and the original Star Wars Battlefront 2 were some of the most influential titles in awakening his love for video games. After interning for Shacknews throughout college, Donovan graduated from Bowie State University in 2020 with a major in broadcast journalism and joined the team full-time. He is a huge film fanatic and will talk with you about movies and games all day. You can follow him on twitter @Donimals_

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