While we all know the “Golden Rule,” it’s sometimes good to poke a little fun at those who are deliberately delusional, like flat-earthers. Oregon-based Columbia Sportswear is joining the fun, as CEO Timothy Boyle launches “Expedition Impossible,” a promotion that pledges the “everything owned by the company” to flat earthers. They only need but complete one simple challenge: “Post a photo proving you’ve reached the edge of the Earth.”
Hearing the CEO of a well-known and successful sportswear brand freely give away the assets of the business might sound like an out-of-season April Fools’ joke. But for flat eathers, the joke is on them. The official YouTube channel for Columbia Sportswear featured Boyle walking around the company’s headquarters in Oregon while proclaiming that flat earthers will receive “all this” if they can just complete the challenge. Just “snap a picture,” Boyle jokes. Of course, the edge of the world does not exist; it never has. But it would be interesting to see any ignorant individuals take the photo challenge seriously and give it a go.
Needless to say, the internet found the clever Columbia Sportswear ad hilarious, and for good reason. “A bold level of sass that I approve of. It won’t stop the flat earthers from being idiots, but still,” remarks one Redditor. Another person claims that there will be one random bold individual who gets photographic “proof” that the Earth is flat, only to sue the company later when he isn’t given the grand prize. “I have the feeling they don’t know *quite* what they are getting into…” comments a third.
Some in the YouTube comment section had a field day as well for Expedition Impossible. “This is hilarious love it,” exclaims a viewer. “Cracked me up!!!” laughs a second. Praise aside, even though it’s oftentimes questionable whenever a company uses a real-world issue to promote its products, Columbia Sportswear definitely hit the nail on the head with this ad.
