Some days ago a YouTube video appeared of a Danish women looking for the father of her child – which she supposedly met some evening and didn’t remember the name or nationality of.
The video can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8Seo5j_mNU
Now, many people thought it was real and it sort of vent “viral” which can be seen in the comments.
It has now been revealed that the video is a fake (oh the horrors – welcome to the Internet) and is an advertisement from a Danish ad agency to promote “Denmark”, called “VisitDenmark“.
Well – that’s that to begin with, and I didn’t really care …. until I saw a representative for the agency in the news on a Danish TV station talking about he trick, which prompted my reaction.
The representative, sad there and kept repeating a memorized mantra that it was to promote awareness of the place called Denmark (duh) and when asked if they had thought of the consequences and image they’d project of the Danish women, she repeated another memorized line of keywords – that they believed it promoted an image of “independent” women, taking “choices” in a “society” which allows them to take their own choice…….and other such keywords.
If I were a specialist in body language however, I’d also say she was lying about that – as she spoke those memorized keywords with erratic movements of upper body and head, and the attempts at emphasizing the keywords compared to the rest of the words, but I’m not a specialist – so….. It just looked like it wasn’t a reaction they had anticipated and needed to come up with excuses fast.
Funny though – my, and many others, impression of the messaged conveyed, was instead that they promoted Danish women as easy, willing to sleep with random tourists without knowing their names or nationality.
Visit Demark and try our easy women…. That’s the message they convey in my opinion.
The general reaction so far from people and politicians alike are also that it is distasteful attempt of promoting Denmark, and many remarks on both YouTube and elsewhere are the same interpretation as mine.
I guess we’ll see if this plan creates publicity and works or not…. Because I’m not a subscriber of the “any publicity is good publicity” theory – many people deliberate avoid products when displayed in stupid adverts or when companies lies to the public. This is no difference whether it is milk bought in the supermarket or awareness of a nation.
I can’t wait to see the consequences for VisitDenmark – because I’m sure we’ll see some and this case isn’t over yet.
Edit: I’ve added a new link because it seems the original one was pulled. Long live the internet. 
Hi,
Okay, I’ll admit I thought this was a real post… but you’re right, welcome to the internet. I think that it’s a very sad campaign indeed. And, shame on the people from "VisitDenmark". All that said, I’m a little more open minded and think that it’s only them to blame and not a country. I had the opportunity to study in Copenhagen. and think the best of this lovely country. This video in no way has changed any of my very fond memories and opinions of the country and its people.
It seems more reactions mirror my own as reactions start to hit the Danish media.
One can wonder if they truly did think this through…..
It seems VisitDenmark have removed the video now, so I’ve relinked to another version in my blog piece to keep it visible.
Hello, It seem your blog doesnt display decently with ie6.
I don’t know what to say
Hi Allan, it seems like they have removed the video on Youtube again – do you have a more up-to-date link that works?
I’ve added a new link to the YouTube video.
I Think that so bad
To be honest, it seems like a really strange thing to do. I don’t know how Visit Denmark though this would promote their country!
Don’t get why they want to promote their country like this. Denmark is awesome! Been there 3 times and definetely want to go there again!
this is actually the second time i read your blog, good article as usually! thank you, Resor