How far is too far when it comes to jokes on your signage? Because vinyl signs and other standalone pieces are expected to…well, stand alone, companies should avoid ad campaigns that lack important context.
Dan Le Batard, a sports radio host for ESPN, found out the hard way that a joke plays differently when put on a giant sign and pasted around town.
According to NESN, Le Batard has been temporarily suspended by the network due to billboards that mock LeBron James' decision to leave the Miami Heat for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The signs show an image of two NBA championship rings, a reference to James' stint with the Heat, and the caption "You're welcome, LeBron," followed by "Love, Miami." The billboards were displayed in multiple locations in Ohio and shared in photographs on Twitter.
Although Le Batard says he meant the stunt to be in the spirit of "fun anarchy," ESPN wasn't laughing when they decided to pull his show for two days.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer quotes from a press release describing the company's decision. Le Batard's original plan reportedly was to put the same message in giant headlines in Ohio newspapers, but the even grander scale of billboards proved too tempting.
"Dan Le Batard will be off the air for two days, returning Monday," it reads. "His recent stunt does not reflect ESPN's standards and brand. Additionally, we were not made aware of his plans in advance."
Businesses need a qualified provider of signage to step in during the design process and help them devise an initiative that will get them the right kind of attention. Screen printing companies can give your company an advantage in these efforts.