Red Bull Gets Taken By The Horns For Damaging UNESCO Heritage Site With Stunt
Video screenshot via Kostiantyn Usov, Kiev Deputy Mayor
Brimming with energy-fueled liquid courage, a gung-ho Red Bull left a (physical) mark at a UNESCO World Heritage site and is now suffering the brunt of it. Its latest stunt in Kiev, Ukraine saw it leaving a tire tread at the forecourt of Saint Sophia Cathedral.
While it’s not uncommon for brands and creators to pull off campaigns with world landmarks as their backdrops, Red Bull made the mistake of dirtying the site, and doing so without authorization. The activation, believed to be starred by local rap artist Alyona Alyona, saw two Nissans in Red Bull livery swirling around a statue and creating a black tread.
Posted by Kostiantyn Usov on Tuesday, August 10, 2021
According to a report by local news site BYKVU, Red Bull was actually denied permission by local authorities to carry out the drifting stunt, but it decided to wing it, anyway, not enforcing the required safety precautions and barriers as well.
As a result, “2,000 square meters of paving with Kyiv yellow bricks have been damaged on the Sofiiska Square,” the outlet detailed.
Posted by Kostiantyn Usov on Tuesday, August 10, 2021
The stunt was stopped midway by local police, who towed and impounded the cars, B&T noted.
Kostiantyn Usov, Kiev’s deputy mayor, shared his vexation about the damage and side effects of the stunt on Facebook, writing: “Red Bull did this early this morning endangering dozens of lives. People of the morning were going to work through a large area and were forced to dodge vehicles. The consequences could have been, without exaggeration, tragic.”
Expressing remorse for its “oversight,” Red Bull has apologized and offered US$2,000 for the cleaning bill. In addition, it has been handed a 1,700 Hryvnia (US$64) fine by the local council for going against orders.
“We did not follow all the necessary procedures and we deeply regret this oversight on our part,” a representative of the brand responds. “It was always our intention to clean the site so that we would leave it as we found it.”
ENG BELOW👇👇👇Сьогодні вранці на святій Софійській площі Києва продавець енергетичного напою Ред Бул без погодження з...
Posted by Kostiantyn Usov on Tuesday, August 10, 2021
[via B&T, video and images via Kostiantyn Usov, Kiev Deputy Mayor]
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