Wildlings releases media statement addressing recent controversy caused by their new website
Following last week’s controversy over the content on their new website, Wildlings has released this statement.
We at Wildlings recently found ourselves the subject of some online chatter which we chose not to engage with.
Our new agency website was intended to showcase our creative team’s portfolio and experience over the past 15 years. As Wildlings are the new kids on the block, it was by no means intended to suggest these campaigns were created whilst at Wildlings.
We should have listed the agencies at which this work was created. It was an oversight on our part. When first made aware of the issue, we tried to credit our previous agencies, then very quickly removed the work to avoid any risk of confusion.
We recognise, value and acknowledge great work requires brave clients, agencies and production partners all pulling together simultaneously and we hold the clients and teams from those agencies and production partners in the highest regard.
Wildlings were accused of promoting work which they had no part in. This isn’t accurate.
Our intention was to show what our Founding Partners have and can do for clients. All of the work in question over the past 15-years involved our partners as either a Senior Copywriter, Senior Art Director, Creative Director, or Chief Creative Officer before launching Wildlings. We are all proud of our involvement in these campaigns, which can be verified via International award credits.
We have been dismayed by the serious negative commentary, accusations and threats that have played out online. It’s something which presents our industry in a poor light.
Having said that, we’d like to sincerely thank all our client partners and industry friends who have reached out to offer your unwavering support – you truly are wonderful beings.
The Wildlings.
7 Comments
Classy response Wildlings. Lay down your pitchforks.
Regardless of the chatter, it’s undeniable that you are a truly talented bunch. Can’t wait to see what you create together!
Because, in all my years in advertising, I have never ever seen network agencies place ads in their show reels that were created by talent that no longer works there.
Sounds like a Sorry, Not Sorry statement. We all saw the original copy online majority of last week. There was no quick removal especially when calls were made 3-4 days prior to the post. The articles/post was right to call out this behavior. All we get now is an ‘oh well’? The issue was the lack of credit. If the website was intended to showcase previous work, then why not clearly state that? With Matt having experience as a copywriter, I would assume more attention would be given to intention vs translation. There was absolutely no attempt at giving credit. Put your ego aside and apologize for the mistake whether it was done intentionally or unintentionally. Learn from it and move on.
With success comes the haters. When you see these guys give them a hug, and get ready to see a lot more great work.
Keep shaking things up Wildlings.
I wouldn’t want to gain success by not crediting the work of the team. But to each their own. If people are skimming past this fact, then I have nothing more to say.
… but concede the moral high ground please.
Getting a vitriolic spray from the underbelly of CB and LinkedIn is always unfair, but it doesn’t make you victims in this saga. Not everyone who was unhappy with your behaviour was trying too squash the little guy – a lot were disappointed fans!
Look at the way other ‘new kids on the block’ like Moonsail and Hypnosis have shared their past experience on their sites. That’s how it should have be done. Whether the way it was addressed by the big dogs was right or wrong, it was your actions that ‘represented our industry in a poor light’ in the first place (even if you didn’t intend to do so).
We work in a field where we navigate what is and isn’t deceptive communication almost every day. To publish that work in the way you did with ’15 years of experience’ in the industry was far more than ‘an oversight’ – it was baffling.
You could have chopped this press release in half, added ‘we apologise for any confusion’ and called it a day.
Looking forward to seeing you move on and make some more great work.