Apple’s ‘Crush’ iPad ad sparks backlash from creatives

The minute-long Apple ad showing art equipment and materials being crushed down into the new iPad Pro is being called heartbreaking, wanton, and creepy.

Apple first aired its “Crush” ad during the “Let Loose” event that saw the launch of the new iPad Air and iPad Pro models. It shows paints, guitars, toys, sculptures, and more, all being crushed down by an enormous weight, which then rises up again to reveal the iPad Pro.

Since that debut during the event, Apple’s Tim Cook tweeted a link to it — and started a backlash. At time of writing, there are over 2,500 comments to his tweet and while many are about iPad details, most are expressing abhorrence at the ad.

“It is a heartbreaking, uncomfortable, and egotistic advertisement,” responded Twitter user Hiroki Akiyama. “When I see this result, I’m ashamed to buy Apple products since nineteen years.”

“This destruction is extremely distasteful,” wrote another user. Others say the ad “lacks any respect for creative equipment and mocks the creators.”

“Genuinely apple’s creepiest ad since the Mother Earth DEl debacle,” continue the comments. “Oh my, that’s a scary advertisement.”

It’s likely that at least some of the ad was created with CGI. This is proven by moments like the toy’s face somehow specifically being face-out and caught by the camera with the precision that it was. Hydraulic presses are crazily expensive, and there would be a wide field of debris and stains on the press if it were real, as well.

It doesn’t appear that the high likelihood that the video is CGI alters the reactions. “Even if this Movie is CG,” writes one commentator, “it pains me to see this kind of Creative-destroying representation.”

Tim Cook also posted the video on Chinese social media site Weibo, where at time of writing it’s had around 250 comments — and hardly any criticism. “This advertising idea is so amazing,” says one user (in translation.)

Apple has also posted the complete ad on YouTube. However, as with all videos on the official Apple channel, comments are turned off.