An outdoor execution for Greenpeace's 'Reject John West' campaign has been taken down due to “commercial pressure”, with Greenpeace questioning whether the Simplot-owned brand was behind the move.
Independent Outdoor Media cut the Greenpeace ad short yesterday due to “commercial pressure”, but would not state the exact nature of this pressure, according to Greenpeace.
The environmental organisation has demanded that John West should clarify whether it was behind the decision. It is unclear whether John West was behind the move, as it was unavailable for comment at the time of writing.
The Greenpeace billboard had read 'John West Killer Deal – RejectJohnWest', and was meant to be erected for four weeks near the John West headquarters in Melbourne.
Greenpeace has been engaged in an anti-John west push for some weeks, with the organisation protesting the tuna brand's fishing practices.
Greenpeace Oceans campaigner Nathaniel Pelle said: “Given the focus of the campaign and the proximity of the billboard, Greenpeace is calling on John West's owner, Simplot, to clarify whether it, or any of its commercial partners, exerted pressure on IOM to end the public campaign.
“If John West has a problem with Greenpeace’s campaign, they’re more than welcome to take it up with us. We’ll be happy to stop the campaign about their destructive fishing practices when they pledge to change their ways.
“John West’s owner, Simplot, has enormous media-buying budgets and Greenpeace wants to know whether or not Simplot has pressured IOM to take down the billboard targeting it.”
Last week, Greenpeace claimed that John West had blocked its Australian Facebook page from international visitors due to the campaign.
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