I think it was a smart move. In a few months no one will know why they know who Groupon is, but they'll absolute recognize the name because they were all pissed about how "insensitive" the commercials were.
Plus it gives them a popular platfrom from which to Learn and Rise and be Cutely Contrite...see? We all now get to watch little Groupon grow up in public. Expect a press conference apology soon, they're not going to waste all this attention!
I'll absolutely remember them just like I knew about the sock puppet, Whoopi Goldberg, and the... one with the chesty women. Which one was that one again?