Apple TVFollowing on from the news that a woman was hospitalized over an ominous Pluribus ad, a new rumor has surfaced that the Apple TV series has been canceled, but is it true?
The marketing campaign for Vince Gilligan’s show has been well in line with its tone, involving a series of mysterious and often meta in-universe jokes such as a working phone number that puts you through to the hive mind.
But one ad made the headlines for all the wrong reasons amid the release of Pluribus Episode 6. Set against a background of the show’s textbook yellow, a message across the screen reads, “We’re sorry we upset you, Carol.”
This allegedly appeared on the smart fridge of a woman named Carol who has schizophrenia, causing her to take herself to A&E believing she was experiencing a psychotic episode. And now, there’s an allegation that Pluribus is being canceled altogether.
Is Pluribus canceled?
No, despite going viral, the claim that Pluribus has been canceled is false. On the contrary, it received a two-season order by Apple TV, meaning we’re getting at least one more chapter after the Season 1 finale airs.
The allegation came from X user @flanthippe, who said on December 7 – shortly after the smart fridge controversy hit the headlines – that “Pluribus has been cancelled by Apple TV+ after one season.”
The post has been viewed more than 1.3 million times, receiving thousands of likes and hundreds of comments, with one asking, “Is this true?” “They had a good run,” said another, while a third added, “How, it was quality.”
However, others were quick to point out that the claim is unverified. As said by one, “This is fake news, it literally got a two season order before it aired an episode.”
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“This is false, a wise fan ordered two seasons of it before the series even started airing,” added another.
Since then, their post has been slapped with a community note that reads, “Pluribus has not been cancelled. The show is currently streaming its first season on Apple TV and remains active, with new episodes airing as planned. No official cancellation has been announced.”
Pluribus smart fridge ad controversy explained
As we previously reported, the Pluribus ad reportedly caused a woman to believe she was suffering a psychotic break.
The news was initially shared by the woman’s sister on Reddit, who wrote, “My schizophrenic sister hospitalised herself because she thought she was having a psychotic episode where someone was attempting to communicate with her through her fridge.
“Turns out it was an advert on the LED screen.” The alleged incident unfolded in the UK, with the user asking if the advert broke any local laws.
“Need some advice. She’s not really capable of organising most of her own affairs. She spent two days under monitoring. This isn’t the first time she’s been kept in as she has had previous psychotic episodes once every two years or so,” they continued.
“During this time her medications were adjusted. She also rang me during this time to tell me that ‘someone was trying to communicate with her through her fridge.’ She booked a taxi to A&E and was driven there.
“I’ve finally got her back home a few days ago. However, when I was scrolling on Facebook today I saw an advert on a smart fridge which stated the words, ‘We’re sorry we upset you, Carol.’
Apple TV“It was set against a creepy yellow background and was very ominous. Upon closer inspection it was an advert for some TV show. That’s my sister’s name. Carol. I sent her the photo and asked if this was what she saw. She confirmed it.
“Some creepy advert in a place where an advert shouldn’t usually go has sent her to the bloody hospital and triggered a review of the efficacy of her antipsychotics.
“Is this even legal in the UK? Running creepy adverts like that on a smart fridge with absolutely no way of knowing who could’ve seen them?”
The post received dozens of comments, with many suggesting that the ad might not have broken any advertising laws in the UK as device owners can opt-out of smart features. However, they did suggest that the woman can “try complaining to the advertising standards authority.”
Others said it highlights the wider issue of advertisement placement, and how it’s creeping into every facet of our lives.
“I’m so glad that a community exists around ad hygiene,” said one. “Ads on appliances is absolutely dystopian, and obviously harmful to society and the individuals who are exposed to them.”
Is the smart fridge claim real?
Some have now claimed that the post is fake after the person who originally uploaded the smart fridge image took to the comments section.
“Hello, I am the original poster of the Carol AD image from a month ago. I am a male from America and my name is not Carol. I still hate ads though,” they said, before sharing links to both threads.
“I assume that the new post is fake, a top comment under the original said, ‘Just imagine your name is Carol, you’re in psychosis, and you see this on your fridge…’
“I assume that this comment was the inspiration for a Reddit story. The OP of said post has a four day old account and no replies to the nice comments. Either way I just wanted to clarify that the second post did not come from me, thanks!”
Apple TVAnother commented, “THE STORY IS FAKE. The photo of the fridge was on r/mildlyinfuriating I believe (or a similar subreddit, maybe r/assholedesign) and made it to the top of r/all.
“The top comment was something along the lines of ‘Imagine seeing this if your name is Carol and you have schizophrenia.’
Lo and behold, a few days later this post pops up on r/LegalAdviceUK claiming that the same ad, also on a smart fridge, sent a woman named Carol with schizophrenia into psychosis.”
All of this is speculation at this stage, as none of the claims have been officially verified. But what we do know is that it hasn’t led to the show being canceled.
Pluribus could continue for three or more seasons
Creative CommonsIn fact, Vince Gilligan is hopeful Pluribus could continue beyond the two ordered seasons, previously telling Polygon, “If you held a gun to my head, I would say three seasons. At least I would hope for three seasons.”
But he went on to point out, “I said that in the early days of Breaking Bad. People asked me, and I said, ‘I think three seasons and done.’ And then it turned out to be six, which was great.
“There turned out to be more story than I thought was possible. So maybe that’ll be the case here. Maybe it won’t be. I don’t know.”
In a separate interview with Variety, Gilligan revealed, “I think we have a pretty good idea of where it should end. One of the most important things I can do in the writers’ room is not be too precious about the ideas. If we come up with a better way to end this thing, we will.”
Pluribus Episode 7 drops on Apple TV on December 12. Until then, check out our breakdown of the Episode 5 ending, why Carol Sturka’s name is important, and check out more TV shows streaming this month.