Even if you don’t use either of their services, surely you’ll be interested in the fight Gaydar is trying to start with Manhunt over supposedly hijacking NYC Pride?
Having already publicly feuded with Fabulis, Manhunt is being invited to another web battle with their competitors at Gaydar. The British-based “dating” site is all upset that after donating cash to Heritage of Pride to become a sponsor for the NYC Pride parade march (of which Queerty was also a sponsor), which entitled them to wave their brand around at the Pier Dance, circumvented a proper sponsorship and instead hired a plane to fly a banner over all the queers. How dare she!
“We were thrilled to sponsor the Pier Dance. People loved the Freemasons, we made tons of new friends and gave away a truckload of T-shirts,” says Gaydar’s marketing head Phil Henricks (on the website of the company’s publicist). “And it was sunny, which was great, though I found the Manhunt’s aerial banner hijack attempt to be a bit desperate and, with no mention of Pride on their banner, not terribly supportive of the community.”
All those corporate donations to NYC Pride, to be sure, helped new managing director Chris Frederick bring in major bucks (read: a 300 percent increase) for 2010.
But does flying an airplane banner over NYC Pride’s festivities count as hijacking?
Well, it’s certainly not kosher — but it’s a standard industry practice, or at least an oft repeated one, for companies to glom onto major events as unofficial advertisers, with only tongue-in-cheek nods that they aren’t an actual sponsor. (And while you’ll see it during the Super Bowl in the U.S., the World Cup was having none of it). It comes down to finances: It’s much more expensive to be an official partner of Pride or any other event than it is to sneak your way in through the back door. Or the not-so-friendly skies.
Ansy
Battle of the Skanks. Are these two companies trying to find out who can outskank the other?
William
They got what they wanted – cheap advertising. To wit, the story here.
Heath
These companies need to quit crying like fucking babies. As if everything Gaydar’s ever done hasn’t been desperate. Complaining about this shit for publicity is especially desperate. Love the cheap jab: “not terribly supportive of the community”. As if covering bitches in body paint and parading them around is supportive of the community. Give me a fucking break!
Jacob
Did this realy happen? I was at pier dance with a bunch of friends and NONE of us saw any “manhunt plane”. I really would not expect much more from MH……let’s not forget they supported McCain with our gay dollars! As long as gay men want to fuck these sites will be around….nothing we can do
Gert
Manhunt = sleaze, cock, steroid, hook up
Gaydar = some of that but more of a human side plus a nice radio
Billy
Phil Henricks used to be the VP of Marketing at Manhunt, didn’t he? He would have done exactly the same thing if he were still there. He’s a boob.
Nothing more than a publicity stunt by both companies.
Chip
If that body paint turns up as t-shirts I want to know about it.
SFOMan
gaydar is TACKY
Tallskin
@SFOMan – nope gaydar is by far the better product. I use manhunt and gaydar and there’s no point of comparison. i also use GayRomeo, but that’s pretty crap.