Brands strive for street cred and fall flat on their faces. Repeatedly.

Some of the most regrettable moments in advertising occur when brands attempt to demonstrate their street cred. This almost always ends badly because very few brands have any. Cracked.com has assembled nine of the most egregious offenders for your review and amusement. The link is worthwhile if only for the headline “Fruity Pebbles Goes ‘Urban’.” 

Allow me to summarize the lesson all advertisers must get through their skulls by borrowing a line from Martin Mull’s classic song, “Bernie Don’t Disco” (from the 1979 album Near Perfect/Perfect):

“Just be who you are, don’t try to be where it’s at.”

Amen, brother.