There’s a crowded field of terrible advertisements this fall. No, I’m not talking about the Stockholm Syndrome Peloton ad nor the haunting dead grandma iPad commercial. I’m not even here to pile on about why we don’t need any more milquetoast Aaron Rodgers State Farm spots. That’s been done. No, I’m talking about something far more sinister: Baker Mayfield and Progressive have joined forces and they’re terrorizing my dogs.
“Bring me the head of the person responsible for the Baker Mayfield Progressive commercial with the smoke alarm.”
– Dog owners everywhere— Jilly (@jilldubs) December 2, 2019
In this 42-second canine horror movie, Mayfield meanders around First Energy Stadium haplessly trying to locate a beeping smoke alarm. The result? My dogs (2007-Britney-Spears-Dog as well as Niles-Crane-Spirit-Animal-Dog) going absolutely mental until the next commercial break.
They are united in hating this commercial
And it’s not just my dogs, it’s yours as well.
Motion to get the #Progressive commercial with the smoke alarm to stop being played. My parents dog is extremely scared of that noise and she shakes in fear for several minutes every time it plays 😭 we try to catch it in time and mute it but we aren’t always successful 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/cgqUC1g7Mo
— Winter Wonder Lyss (@Saintslyssa) November 29, 2019
That progressive commercial where the smoke alarm beeps is the WORST… it triggers our dog’s anxiety every time and she starts running around, whining, and shaking. 😠😭
— Savannah Kennedy (@savkennedy) December 1, 2019
There is a Change.org petition on the matter, as well as direct appeals to PETA, Progressive, and Mayfield himself to pull the commercial from air:
Progressive: STOP the PROGRESSIVE/Baker Mayfield smoke alarm commercial! It TERRORIZES dogs! – Sign the Petition! https://t.co/6iYa4dlJ3h via @Change
— janis millu (@ijanis51) December 4, 2019
@ask_progressive @peta – lot of people complaining about your smoke alarm commercial triggering their dog’s anxiety. I’m another one of those people. Not cool.
— jo$iah$ (@josiahsp) December 2, 2019
Hey, @Progressive. I would like to request stopping the #Baker commercial with the smoke alarm beep. 1. My dog literally shakes after hearing this beep. 2. My wife and I have to rush to find the remote to turn off your commercial/mute it. 3. Baker hasn’t been good @Reflog_18
— CP (@CP_322) December 2, 2019
Hey @bakermayfield and @Progressive, your smoke alarm commercial puts our Great Dane into a shivering panic. She’s not a fan of home fires. Great campaign, but that smoke alarm chirp is a little too realistic for her. 🔥🥺🐾
— Djame (@dj20801) December 1, 2019
Twitter user @dj20801 (above) raises an excellent point. As a person who, not three months ago, found herself balancing precariously on a stool atop a nightstand at 4 AM trying to quiet a chirping alarm, I will also agree that the general sentiment of “remember to change your batteries, you bunch of morons” is a good one. However, Progressive is building zero goodwill in the dog-lover customer segment:
.@Progressive smoke alarm commercial makes my dog freak out and is the exact reason why I have Liberty Mutual.
— Bucky With The Good Hair (@Bucky_Todd) December 2, 2019
I will not get @Progressive insurance due to the smoke alarm beeping commercial. You scare my dog… you done 🙅🏻♂️
— Matt C (@MattyIceCOUG) December 2, 2019
Hey @Progressive, focus group your @bakermayfield smoke alarm commercial with some dog owners…
— Chuck Hansen (@TheChuckHansen) November 30, 2019
The fact that this commercial was greenlit in the first place shows a blind spot for Progressive (too focused on the Dawg Check and not focused enough on the dog check?). And I’d like to go on record and say, on behalf of dog owners everywhere, we don’t need any of the following campaigns:
- Baker Mayfield sets off fireworks in an upcoming Fourth of July homeowner’s insurance ad.
- Baker Mayfield takes a walk in a thunderstorm to illustrate the importance of life insurance.
- Baker Mayfield joins a motorcycle gang after getting kick-ass auto coverage.
Progressive, I am happy to consult on future projects. Now take down that commercial before I get kicked out of my apartment.
