Wicked Campers
Wicked Campers is an Australian camper van rental company based in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.[1] The company also has outlets in Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, North America, and South Africa.
Wicked Campers are proving popular amongst younger drivers and backpackers. Each van features a hand painted design, often featuring primitive pop culture references and crude slogans.
Controversy
Wicked have continually attracted media attention in Australia and New Zealand for their use of offensive slogans on their painted vans.[2][3][4] [5]
In 2010 the Queensland government released a report saying 90% of Wicked vans in the state were unroadworthy. Wicked voluntarily took the vans off the road but maintains that the vans were safe.[6] It appears, however, that the number of vans that were taken off the road is a point of contention, as this blog which details the background story behind the controversy suggests. [7]
In 2011 Wicked Campers received criticism from animal rights activists for placing stickers inside their Australian vans with the text "Kangaroos, run the fuckers down." Wicked stated the stickers were to promote road safety and prevent vehicular rollovers.[8]
References
- ^ Connolly, John (18 April 2009). "No business like slogan business". The Australian. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
- ^ "Wicked slogan 'goes too far'". Stuff.co.nz. NZPA. 5 May 2010. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
- ^ Lawrence, Jessica (20 July 2008). "Campervan slogans are too Wicked for words". The Sunday Mail. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
- ^ "Controversial campervan found". The Cairns Post. 21 July 2008. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
- ^ Gough, Anthony. "Naked Truth on Wicked Campers". Courier Mail. Retrieved July 2012.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ Dale, Amy (11 January 2010). "Tourists label Wicked campervans 'death traps'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
- ^ "The Wicked Chronicles". Retrieved July 2012.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ Schefe, Yolande (6 February 2011). "Wicked Campers rapped for stickers encouraging drivers to run down kangaroos". The Sunday Mail. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
External links
