Dodge Deletes Controversial Post About Street Racing
Dodge found itself at the center of a scandal after an Instagram post that jokingly linked marriage to a love of street racing. One of the posts in a series about ‘marriage fears’ featured a photo of a Dodge Challenger SRT in a cloud of tire smoke with the caption:
“Marriage is scary, because what if she/he doesn’t like street racing?”
The publication caused a wave of outrage, and the company quickly deleted it.
Street racing became popular in the US during the pandemic, and, despite its danger and criticism, it continues to exist. Although many car enthusiasts condemn such events, someone on the Dodge team deemed it necessary to support this topic. Other posts in the series were innocent, but this one caused a negative reaction.
Why Did It Cause a Resonance?
Dodge Charger and Challenger are often associated with street racing, and many cars at such events are stolen. Therefore, the publication looked particularly unfortunate. The company probably did not expect such a reaction but quickly realized it was a mistake. For a brand associated with American muscle cars, such a step could damage its reputation.
This story is a reminder that social media is not only a tool for engaging an audience but also a risk. Even a joke can be taken seriously, especially when it concerns dangerous or illegal phenomena. Dodge seems to have learned its lesson, but the incident remains in history as an example of an unsuccessful marketing move.