Singapore-based Mark and Audrey's story seemed sympathetic enough: younger man in love with an older woman, creating a Facebook page for their "forbidden love": "Calling out for Blessings — Spread to your friends." But their thousands of supporters soon turned against them once they found out the pair were actors hired by an insurance company for a viral marketing campaign.
Now, the actors face the backlash of a duped public, and they're anything but sympathetic, with some calling it the "EPIC FAIL OF THE YEAR." On the Facebook page where this all began, the comments are still streaming in, and they're steaming. Oddly, the company has yet to step up and disclose itself, which would seem to defeat the whole point of an advertising campaign. Then again, with Facebook comments like this, maybe it's better they keep a low profile:
I am still waiting for a public apology. The only way to end this saga nicely is to take up ownership n responsibility and apologize. At least it might help to earn back some respect. Don't hide behind the curtains and left the audience throwing banana skin on the stage. I guess the publicity n the insurance group do know this better than any one of us here. Words do leak, one fine day the public will know how u are eventually. Either through media or word of mouth.
When "Mark" appealed to Facebook for support for a relationship that met with disapproval from both families because he's 23 and his love, "Audrey," 47, it hooked more than 3,500 fans, mostly Singaporeans, who followed their story on the social network, which was leading up to a wedding on Friday.
Viewers who tuned in to the "wedding" video on Friday found themselves in a car with Mark and his groomsmen, on the way to the ceremony. Mark is last seen getting out of the car to go back to his house because he forgot something, like a ring. And then the sound of a car crash outside sends all his friends out of the car, leaving the camera inside.
Xin MSN's Nicholas Lim watched the video and said that's when this flashed next:
The video ended with a disclaimer saying the story was a fictional account of lovers who "fought against all odds to be together" but were "denied by an unfortunate event" and added that this was a campaign to highlight the uncertainties of life.
And that's how many fans found out they'd been had, thinking that this real-life soap opera had met a tragic end, but had instead, really been a fictional soap opera. The Facebook page for the couple spun out this message, which revealed the insurance tagline:
The story is about how both fell in love, chose road less traveled by many. They went against all odds; stood by the love they have and fight for what they believe in but life had another plan for them.
Life is unpredictable, from falling in love to living life to the fullest. So We should embrace every moment and safeguard our loved ones. Don’t leave to chance.
The insurance company and the marketers behind this have yet to go much beyond that disclaimer, responding to the Facebook thread with this: "Discussion is indeed beyond control. We cannot control what participants are talking about hence we play by ears. The whole idea is about giving an experience when audience perceive as real. The motive of hoax was to trick people to believe it so that they could actually experience it until they realize is an ad."
That didn't go over well with the people who had followed Mark and Audrey's story.
You said "Life is unpredictable", "Don’t leave to chance", but at the other end you also said "the discussion on FB is out of our control". How self-contradictory! I think the lesson is for YOU to learn: "Life is unpredictable", "Honesty is the best policy" and "We should have studied and practised Business Ethics".
The sense of outrage in this kind of viral marketing came through loud and clear:
Page should rename itself 'Begging to be cursed'- Apologize to your friends.Viral marketing agency, actors, extras all lin peh better have good insurance coverage. Suggest a comprehensive policy covering 'Epic Fail Marketing Campaigns' as one of the riders.
For the unfortunate actors who signed onto this ill-fated gig, the repercussions are not only affecting their professional lives, but personal too.
An AsiaOne story followed up with the actress who portrayed Audrey, who said she worried about her safety and those of her children after receiving threats from her former online fans from the Mark and Audrey Facebook page; not to mention the impact the backlash would have on her career.
More fake Facebook stories:
- Cops called over fake Facebook profile
- Facebook fake used dead war hero's photos to flirt
- Google CEO's fake Facebook profile - could it happen to you?
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