Joe Camel Was Essentially Banned for Being Too Cool

Do you remember when a cartoon camel in sunglasses was one of the most recognizable characters in America?

Joe Camel was not a Saturday morning cartoon, nor a cereal mascot.

He was the mascot for Camel cigarettes. And man, he was cool.

Joe Camel is a great example of things from our childhood that would not fly today. Here’s more about how the campaign ended in 1997 after increased litigation and pressure from U.S. federal agencies.

Essentially, how he was cancelled for being too cool.

Who Was Joe Camel?

Joe Camel showed up in Europe in the ‘70s, but he really took off in the U.S. in 1988 when R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company decided Camel cigarettes needed a refresh.

So, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco gave him:

– Sunglasses
– Leather jackets
– Nightclub backdrops
– Surrounded him with women
– Pool tables
– Vibes

He wasn’t just selling tobacco, he was selling how to be cool — and it worked.