Mastercard's PR Campaign For The BRIT Awards Massively Backfires

Absolutely disgusting PR stunt from @MasterCardUK. How can you think ‘telling’ journos what to write will end well…? #PricelessSurprises

– Nicola Harper (@HarperInTheCity) February 19, 2014

#PricelessSurprises sounds like something sarcastic you’d say when your cat leaves a freshly-killed mouse on your pillow – Chris Applegate (@qwghlm) February 19, 2014

As a former hack now in PR, 3 golden rules. 1. Give them good content. 2. Don’t overbrand 3. Don’t make conditions! #PricelessSurprises – David Prescott (@DavidPrescott) February 19, 2014

Good press coverage is hard to bribe. For everything else there’s Mastercard. #PricelessSurprises – Felicity Morse (@FelicityMorse) February 19, 2014

Bit ironic that Mastercard spent cash on #pricelesssurprises as a “promoted” UK Twitter trend when, in fact, it would be trending anyway – Jane Merrick (@janemerrick23) February 19, 2014

This took me at least four minutes. #PricelessSurprises pic.twitter.com/H5BLN1pWbc – Bobble Bardsley (@bobblebardsley) February 19, 2014

Got into huge debt with credit card, so many #PricelessSurprises incl threatening letters from bailiffs (am I doing this right Mastercard?) – Bella (@bellamackie) February 19, 2014

Hey @MasterCardUK If you give me tickets to the Brits i’ll tweet anything you like! #Shameless #PricelessSurprises http://t.co/B2iIs0sWiu

Having your crass social media campaign backfire on you spectacularly #PricelessSurprises

– Ed Hayes (@edjhayes) February 19, 2014

Hiring a social media agency – thousands of pounds. Watching your campaign backfire – priceless. @MasterCardUK #PricelessSurprises

– Sean Fleming (@flemingsean) February 19, 2014