Alltel Wireless billboards 'vandalized' in five cities

Graffiti discouraging consumers from adopting 'My Circle' has "appeared" on outdoor advertisements. Outdoor ads in Phoenix, Charlotte, Raleigh, Tampa and Little Rock were defaced with the word "Don't" in orange paint above the "Call anyone on any network for free." Each billboard also shows Alltel's sales guy, Chad, with various graffiti including mustaches, eye patches, horns and fangs.

From the press release we were sent:

Unconfirmed reports from eyewitnesses in Charlotte, Raleigh and Tampa claim that individuals in pink, yellow, red and orange polo shirts were spotted atop the billboards early this morning. Similar reports were made yesterday in Little Rock and Phoenix.
"It's true that our billboards have been defaced," said Frank O'Mara, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Alltel Wireless. "However, at this time, we cannot confirm or deny who is responsible. One thing about this act is clear – not everyone is as enthusiastic as our customers are about My Circle."

The creative ties in well with the campaign's TV spot by Campbell-Ewald, entitled "Food Court", which we posted on last week, showing four sales guys trying to come up with a plan to stop Alltel. Billboard images inside.