Instant Alert: 5 brands were deliberately political with their Oscar ads this year

MANAGE SUBSCRIPTIONS   |   UNSUBSCRIBE   |   VIEW ONLINE   5 brands were deliberately political with their Oscar ads this year by Julien Rath on Feb 27, 2017, 10:09 AM Advertisement This year's Oscars was set up to be a politically charged night but it was brands, not actors, who made the biggest statements. The awards show is the second biggest live television event in the United States, after the Super Bowl. This year, brands paid up to $2.1 million for a 30-second spot during the film industry's biggest annual event, according to Variety,  From uniting the nation, to championing women, these were the most politically charged ads from the 2017 Oscars.  SEE ALSO: All the ads that ran during the Super Bowl, in order 1. Cadillac - "Carry" The automotive brand aired four ads during the Oscars but its most powerful one called on people to unite a divided nation.  The ad included footage of Mohammed Ali, Marilyn Monroe, and Dwight Eisenhower to show how different people have the power to unite the country. Youtube Embed: http://www.youtube.com/embed/2SB4CbFB7OU?rel=0?ecver=2 Width: 850px Height: 478px 2. GE - "Millie Dresselhaus" GE's Oscars ad called for more women in engineering roles. The theme of the ad echoes Audi's Super Bowl commercial, which called for gender pay equality, but takes on a more fun approach by asking what would happen if scientist Mildred Dresselhaus was treated as a celebrity. The scientist, who was known as the "Queen of Carbon" thanks to her research into the properties of the chemical element, died two days before the awards ceremony at the age of 86. Youtube Embed: http://www.youtube.com/embed/sQ6_fOX7ITQ?rel=0?ecver=2 Width: 850px Height: 478px 3. Hyatt - "For a world of understanding" To the tune of the well-known Burt Bacharach song "What the world needs now is love," Hyatt highlighted human connections across different cultures.  The ad opened with a Muslim woman and then ran through different scenarios of people from different cultures traveling around the world and forming friendships, before ending on the tagline: "For a world of understanding." The commercial is part of Hyatt's new brand platform "World of Hyatt." Youtube Embed: http://www.youtube.com/embed/vOwVmRM9mIM?rel=0?ecver=2 Width: 850px Height: 478px See the rest of the story at Business Insider   Share the latest business news with your network:    Email sent to:   |   Manage your email preferences   |   Unsubscribe Terms of Service   |   Privacy Policy Business Insider. 150 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10011