Australian Ad: Trade In Your Redhead Kid For A Ginger Soda

"Let's Be Honest, No One Really Wants A Ginger"

Redheaded children have it pretty rough. Not only do they get called things like "fire crotch" and "freckle fart from K-Mart," but now their parents are being encouraged to give them away for a six-pack of soda.

Read: Sperm Bank Rejects Sperm From Redheads

Australian soda maker Hakanoa has drummed up fiery controversy for a tongue-in-cheek advertising campaign that offers a pack of its ginger soda in exchange for your ginger child.

"Let's be honest; no one really wants a ginger," the ad reads. "So if you've got one, bring it in and we'll swap it for something you really want, a delicious six pack of Hakanoa Ginger Beer."

While it's not clear how many poor ginger children were actually exchanged, the campaign drew immediate backlash. And after receiving numerous angry complaints, Hakanoa founder Rebekah Hay offered an apology, saying she was sorry if she offended anyone.

Read: Elmo And Conan O'Brien Help Out Redheads Everywhere

Hay blamed the decision on the fact that she was trying to take her business to a new level after years of struggling.

"The thing about playing the media - and we were - is you can't control it," she said. "It is a runaway stampede. I courted controversy and I have to live with the consequences. It is not for the faint-hearted, this kind of marketing plan."

Besides, redheads are making a comeback. It's those sandy blondes we should start giving away.