It’s all about marketing and the Harley-Davidson company knows that. A new billboard outside the Bayside Harley Davidson in Portsmouth is turning heads. The Davidson dealership knows that the motorcycle company does not just sell rumbling bikes, it sells a lifestyle. Their new billboard communicates this well.
Harley-Davidson Is Under Fire For a Billboard’s So-Called ‘Offensive’ Language. “The city of Portsmouth is economically challenged, and I don’t think we should be worried about the word BS on a street sign. pic.twitter.com/tpH1NDQY6d
— Bryan Doyle (@Bryan700) July 3, 2020
Some people in the Portsmouth community have been offended by the billboard, causing the legendary motorcycle maker to face some harsh backlash from some in the public.
The offensive billboard in question says, “Leave all the bulls*it in the wind behind you.” There is no censoring of the profanity on the slogan, so the word in all its gloriously obvious meaning is just out there for the world to see.
Bayside Harley Davidson in Portsmouth responded to the outrage in an interview with local 13NewsNow. They made it clear to the outlet that they don’t sell motorcycles, they sell lifestyles, which is exactly what they are trying to portray with their advertising.
A billboard for Bayside Harley-Davidson in Portsmouth, Va. features foul language, and some residents and city officials aren’t too happy about it. https://t.co/l9LlBx7n5Q
— WNCT (@wnct9) July 27, 2019
“You do put everything behind you when you get on a bike, you let all the daily bs, the boss, the wife, the kids. I mean it goes away, so it’s a true saying,” said GM Shawn Robinson.
Robinson continued by claiming he was surprised that people are so offended by the new ad, which is prominently seen from I-264 East.
“The billboard company approved it, Harley Davidson approved it, we didn’t think it was an offensive term,” Robinson said with a shrug.
A billboard for Bayside Harley-Davidson in Portsmouth, Va. features foul language, and some residents and city officials aren’t too happy about it. https://t.co/G1jmiNe8Nh
— Dillon Huffman (@DillonHuffmanNC) July 27, 2019
Portsmouth City Councilman Bill Moody confirms that the billboard is on Harley-Davidson Bayside property. The company is protected under the first amendment to say it how they please.
Robinson said they certainly never wanted to offend anyone, and he added it’s a little ridiculous people are worried about a billboard when there are far more important things to be fighting for, like the economic situation in the city.
