Today I learned about a 2013 seven-part web drama called
IKEA Heights. Starring then-unknowns
Randall Park (
Fresh Off The Boat, The Interview, Ant Man),
Matt Peters (
Orange Is The New Black) and
Whitney Avalon (
The Big Bang Theory),
it was shot entirely in a series of IKEA Stores in Burbank CA without the staff's knowledge or consent. "Hi. It's Whitney (I played Candice on the show).
After episode four, it went viral and got some press attention. Several reporters started asking Ikea higher-ups, including their international press relations person, about the show. So our cover was blown at that time.
We never got permission, then, before, or after, but as we continued to do more episodes (and get kicked out of the stores more and more) we heard that they had our photos up in the back office, in order to help employees know who to look for specifically in an attempt to keep us from filming the show.
So while they never forced us to stop using the word Ikea, I suppose since it was giving them lots of free publicity by making people laugh, they definitely never agreed to let us film nor gave any money or support. But they certainly knew.

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