Westfield’s ute riding newlyweds incur ad watchdog’s ban
The Westfield Group has had one of its cinema advertisements banned for showing a newly wed couple riding in the tray of a Holden ute.
A complaint posted to the Ad Standards Board said the first scene of the advertisement, which promoted the Spring lines available at the shopping centre, showed “illegal” behaviour including carrying passengers in a part of a vehicle which is not designed to seat passengers.
The complaint noted drivers can be fined $282 and no demerit points in Victoria and $298 and three demerit points in New South Wales for committing the offence.
“This ad may encourage people to do the same. Many people have died or suffered serious head trauma from falling out of the back of a ute,” the complaint concluded.
Replying to the complaints the Westfield Group said the ad was no longer on air, however, the scene was filmed in “private with the cast harnessed into the Ute”.
Westfield Group also noted a safety officer was on set to supervise the filming.
The ad watchdog concluded the ad was in breach of the road rules and upheld the complaint as a result.
Westfield Group replied to the ruling noting the ad is no longer on air and it will not be running in cinema’s again.
The ad is still available on YouTube.
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Are people serious?.. can nothing be done in ads anymore just cos someone might not be smart enough to realise sometimes, the behaviour shouldn’t be replicated in real life?.. Morons complaining and bigger morons upholding the complaints.
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Imagine if they were in a wicked camper – the ad would still be running for another 5 years.
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Whoever filed the complaint needs to be beaten to death with a car antenna.
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Nine times out of ten it’s a competitor.
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It’s ok for blokes to RUN DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD holding beers being chased by cops on foot.
It’s ok for a dude to JUMP FROM THE TOP OF A BUILDING ONTO A MOVING HELICOPTER in a movie trailer on prime time TV.
It’s not ok for a couple to sit in the back of a ute. No wonder clients don’t want to do anything mildly creative anymore.
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