Smart marketing ploy from HBO brings universally hated King of the Realm to New Zealand

Apr 4, 2014 20:51 GMT  ·  By

Everybody hates King Joffrey on HBO’s hit series “Game of Thrones.” As season 4 will premiere this Sunday, Sky TV New Zealand, which airs the series, has come up with an idea for yet another brilliant marketing ploy to get more fans to tune in and, at the same time, offer them the chance to do something for the good of mankind.

A giant statue of King Joffrey has been erected in Aoetea Square in Auckland but, even if it might seem like it’s something to flatter this insufferable royal, it’s not. The statue comes with a thick rope around its neck, which tightens as fans tweet #BringDownTheKing.

This stuff.co.nz video shows the mechanism that makes the rope tighten around Joffrey’s neck, which will inevitably bring his statue down. In other words, you are invited to take part in this ultimate act of rebellion against the King.

If you’re tweeting already, you can see how your actions reflect in real life, as the network has also set up a website that livestreams from 2 cameras in the Square. I can only imagine the joy that will accompany the moment when the statue hits the ground.

“When the city is under siege, he cowers inside with the women. As the food withers away, he orders one lavish wedding after another. As winter approaches, the city has few friends. We are cold, we are wet. The wolves are at the door and a sadistic child sits on the throne. He does not listen to the voice of his people. Let us make him hear it,” reads a text welcoming you to the site.

Clearly, Joffrey is the most hated fictional character to have ever fictitiously lived because Twitter is having a blast with this campaign.