This is pathetic in many ways and for many reasons.
For years, Apple has ruthlessly ridiculed Windows users with its Get a Mac ads – but like many a schoolyard bully, Cupertino can dish it out, but it can’t take it.
American comedian and talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres apologized to Apple on her eponymous television show for a parody iPhone commercial that ran on Monday in which she gently chided Cupertino’s smartphone for, among other things, having a keyboard that was difficult to use.
Not quite, but “almost” a parody apology? Hard to tell what with Ellen being so light in her comedy. Most telling I think is the replay of the original ad?
I think she is complying with her employers lawyers advice and not at the same time. Anything more obvious would have been obvious.
We can appreciate subtlety can’t we?
last I checked you don’t need legal advice to do satire.
eff apple.
next phone I buy is gonna be a droid.
I knew she didn’t like balls.
Seriously, does anyone actually think that the jerks at apple would #1 have any issues with the parody, and #2 actually go to the trouble and contact her about it coz their ittle wittle feewings got hurted by it??
Come on!
Lame parody, lamer excuse.
People need to utilize “weasel apologies” more in situations like this.
“I’m sorry that you were offended by this”…
Android phone and Android tablet for me. My ipod touch is my last apple product.
Ellen is one of my favorites, but I am kinda disappointed in the parody; funniest part was putting the glasses on. Totally me! Anyway I’m glad she replayed the parody with the apology.
Apple should be glad for the free publicity. What a bunch of twits. hehehe.
She doesn’t need to apologies at all. I don’t know if Apple inc. are turning into a bunch of douchebags, by suing everyone in existence, and arresting people for missing iphone prototypes… or are they just trying to get free publicity?
Even the BAD PRESS apple gets helps them and it makes me sick. Microsoft gets bad press, it’s like they are labeled as evil and sinners. Such a bullshit double standard
#4
I would had assumed when i first saw this parody that the joke was on Ellen, her self for being inept with technology, right? I mean she’s not exactly a young woman, and up to speed with technology. When she shows the glasses it gave me the impression like she’s nearing retirement age. And at the end of the video she asks someone ELSE for help.
Ellen should have Molly Wood on her show to tell everyone what she thinks about Apple products.
You know what hurts us fanbois? It’s not necessarily the content. Yeah, we don’t like anybody mocking our imaginary hubby. The biggest issue is that you Ellen (who like us are living an alternative lifestyle) are mocking us Steve loyalists. This just proves that Ellen does not appreciate any man, especially our God: Steve. You can have your women. We will stick with our men.
Here is my version of the apology…
http://youtube.com/watch?v=gbQGVzDjepM
Apple Inc is a direct reflection of Jobs personality. They do keep pit bulls around and have been known to use intimidation many times. I heard on one of Leos shows that some industry fans are worried about Jobs going Howard Hughes.
I woud love to read a truthful opinion from JCD on Jobs.
Her apology was much funnier than her fake ad.
#9
I’ve had to wear glasses since I was 7 yrs old. I don’t think I was near retirement age.
Whatever your age, you seem to be blessed with good vision. Therefor, you should (can you see the following) STFU.
That was awesome.
Something odd. Apple is accused of demanding an apology? Someone find a link to a letter or even a quote from that demand? Seems to me she had a funny bit she wanted to repeat.
#8 – Turning into douchbags? I believe the douchbagification was complete when Woz left the building oh so many years ago.
I can see where Apple might get a little uneasy at the parody, especially since the keyboard isn’t actually hard to use.
So she made it clear that it was actually easy to use. No big deal. Apple got a free ad and an endorsement out of it, and Ellen benefited as well… because she’s THAT good!
As far as the Apple/Microsoft ads… nothing was said about Microsoft that wasn’t true.
I bet Apple didn’t say anything. She just made up an excuse to replay the video (which was kind of popular).
Anyway, I really like Ellen. She was the best of the recent Academy Award hosts. Invite her back, Oscar!
#17 I’m with you. They have to fill up their time slots and decided to pretend they needed to apologize to justify re-running the bit.
Who’s to say what this crap is really all about? And why am I posting this?
Ohhhh….THAT Ellen. I thought JCD meant this Ellen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMt2MK67-Qw
Ha!
@ 10. Now that would be awesome.
Her apology was actually poking fun of her apologizing. You nerds are just too serious sometimes to see the humor in it. Lighten up and enjoy the Ellen comedy.
If she was asked to apologize, it was most likely a top exec passing on the word. After the recent Gizmodo affair, I wouldn’t put this past Apple. But hey, if you defend Apple as a way to justify paying all that money, then go for it.
First, that was the most insincere apology. It sure sounded like she was forced to do it, like a kid forced to apologize for punching their sibling. I was half expecting her to blink “Torture” in Morse Code while on camera.
I don’t know if Apple was behind this. I suspect it was a network suit in a panic over selling ad space to Apple. Apple spends a lot of money on ads, so ad based medis is terrified to piss them off.
Wny is this pathetic? Ellen is just a lesbian liberal talk show host on a SHOW.. simple
Remember that Oprah got sued for saying that Mad Cow fears had turned her off of hamburgers. She won, but I’m guessing the lawyer fees were expensive.
Apple seems fragile to me. They went from the top to ignored and back to the top. A few missteps, or health problems, and Apple might evaporate again. Now that they have moved strongly into retail their costs are much higher.
Apple seems really similar to Starbucks to me. Once the mojo goes it can go quickly. Ellen is cool. If your business needs to be seen as cool her opinion matters.
And that’s why Apple is so sensitive.
Apple seems to be slowly striving for global domination. They actually are starting to look like the regime in their 194 commercial.