Found in the bottom of my inbox; this story from WFTV in Florida. Read all the way through to see my favorite part…
###Business Owners, Customers Upset Over Controversial Billboard###
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — It looked harmless enough, but the words on a billboard unnerved so many people that a popular restaurant nearby actually lost business. The billboard was on Colonial Drive near Old Cheney Highway.
Although the popular Straub’s Seafood restaurant often advertises on it, it wasn’t their billboard. The sign was taken down after Channel 9 started asking questions.
The billboard came down around 4:00 Friday afternoon and nearby business owners are relieved. Straub’s Restaurant can replace the sign with the night’s specials.
At first glance, the sign looked like a children’s cartoon, but the message next to the fairy princess stirred emotions.
“When you condemn all religions and say they are a fairytale, that is wrong,” said Rich Stormes, a nearby business owner. The billboard went up a week before Easter and business at the restaurant went down.
“Easter Sunday is usually a busy good day,” said John Russel, an employee at Straub’s. “Easter Sunday business was down by two-thirds.”
Since the sign is so close, John Russel’s customers thought the restaurant paid for the billboard. To clear any confusion up, Russel put up a sign of his own and called MediaNet, the company who owns the billboard.
“It’s been causing us some problems. I think it’s causing a bit of controversy city-wide. People have been contacting the media,” Russel added.
MediaNet said it had no idea the sign was there and someone put it up illegally in the middle of the night. (my emphasis -SL) Nearby business owners said they weren’t buying it.
“They should have known what was going up on the billboard. He should proof it. He had to proof it,” Stormes stated.
The billboard rents for $1,400 a month. If an anti-religious group paid to rent it legitimately, there is no telling how long it would have been up.
Orange County does not regulate messages on billboards. They are protected by free speech. (If you can get the corporation who owns the billboard to post your content -SL)
One Comment
[…] 7. The Anti-Advertising Agency points out the reaction to a billboard in Florida which says, “All Religions Are Fairy Tales.” People complained, a nearby restaurant that doesn’t seem to have had anything to do with it lost business. Following the backlash, the message was removed. AAA’s Steve Lambert offers a critique of the backlash, noting that the article says the owner of the billboard claimed the message was put up “illegally in the middle of the night” (which area businesses are skeptical of. The article says the county “does not regulate messages on billboards. They are protected by free speech.” To which Lambert adds: “(If you can get the corporation who owns the billboard to post your content).” […]
It’s the ultimate bandit sign.
One Trackback
[…] 7. The Anti-Advertising Agency points out the reaction to a billboard in Florida which says, “All Religions Are Fairy Tales.” People complained, a nearby restaurant that doesn’t seem to have had anything to do with it lost business. Following the backlash, the message was removed. AAA’s Steve Lambert offers a critique of the backlash, noting that the article says the owner of the billboard claimed the message was put up “illegally in the middle of the night” (which area businesses are skeptical of. The article says the county “does not regulate messages on billboards. They are protected by free speech.” To which Lambert adds: “(If you can get the corporation who owns the billboard to post your content).” […]