British PM has sex with pig in ad campaign for Foxtel’s arts channel Studio
A large format billboard has been posted in Sydney featuring the British prime minister preparing to have sex with a pig.
The ad is an image from the UK TV series Black Mirror and is to promote Foxtel channel Studio’s “forbidden” programming season.
The episode of Black Mirror, “There is no Playbook” “The National Anthem” – by UK writer Charlie Brooker – tells the story of a fictional British prime minister who faces a rising tide of social media pressure when a British princess is kidnapped and the price of her life is that he commits the act of bestiality on live television.
The program, airing in June, is being shown as part of Studio’s “Festival of WTF“.
The high profile billboard is above William Street in Kings Cross in Sydney.
The WTF campaign was developed with brand agency Houston. Studio is run by SBS.
There is also a TV ad to back the WTF campaign:
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large.
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That’s disgusting and abhorrent. It has my complete attention.
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Corey Bernardi was right!!
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The word is ‘bestiality’, not ‘beastiality’.
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Thanks Patrick,
I bow to your superior knowledge (but not too much I hope)… now amended.
Cheers,
Tim
Wow… we work with Billboards, but really? Advertising Standards Bureau?
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The episode is called National Anthem? http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2089051/
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This is totally unsuitable for a public billboard.
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a prime example that the ASB’s self regulation IS NOT WORKING. This billboard will probably be taken down as I feel sure it has crossed an invisible line, but not before they get the media attention they were after. The advertisers would have every intention of offending and knowingly breaking rules, but they do it anyway. There’s no penalty for their misdemeanour. Rather, they get attention – just what they want. And our society and kids pay the price in a loss of innocence and feeling of well-being.
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Wendy, I’m pretty certain Kings Cross (where this ad’s at) lost its innocence a while back.
What I’m surprised about is the lack of outrage from cafes in the area. It’s going to hurt bacon and egg sales
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Brilliant work.
Viral in 3, 2, 1…
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The same Wendy Francis of the ACL? http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/the-......html#poll
If you knew a thing about King’s Cross, you wouldn’t *ever* describe it as “innocent”.
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They got the attention they wanted.To the men and women who are so degraded and lacking of any moral character for offending those of our society who still believe there are boundaries that shouldn’t be crossed- not something to be proud of and show your children.
Human beings behaving with less dignity and intellect than animals. How very sad.
That the very sacred union of man and woman that brings the greatest intimacy(sex) is so degraded is abhorrent. A billboard like this should never be seen and a Tv show like this shows the great disparity between the potential of humanity and it’s depraved state.
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I’ve seen the episode. It is just as distressing as this billboard indicates. Actually, much, much more distressing.
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Don’t forget ‘man and man’ intimacy Carlyn.
I’m starting to think some of these people have never been to the Cross….
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The Outdoor Media Association would like to emphasise that this is not one of its member’s sites and we are surprised that Foxtel, being aware of the AANA’s Code of Ethics, has run with this type of campaign.
The OMA is a strong supporter of the self-regulatory system for advertising and has worked hard to ensure that the industry advertises within the bounds of the Code of Ethics. As such we have had no upheld complaints in 2013 and only 3 were upheld in 2012. We take regular steps to educate our members and have recently finished Content Training around Australia.
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How do you thing P.E.T.A. would protest against this? Just a random thought. Feedback welcomed.
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Warning! Warning!
The Christians are ready to pounce again!
These poor, innocent children who have never seen the act of sex before (on their smartphones/internet/penthouse)
I wonder how their campaign is going aginst internet porn/beastiality? (not that I have ever looked at that kind of stuff before)
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This is really abhorrent. Unbelievable that no-one at the agency, printer, media owner stepped in to stop this from going up. How is this kind of disgusting animal cruelty funny?
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Great that this awesome show is finally making it to Australian shores. Everything that comes out of Charlie Brooker’s brain is brilliant.
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Houston, we have a problem.
Advertising what’s very clearly Adults Only content in a broad medium like this isn’t appropriate.
Whilst the Billboard is in the less-than-innocent Kings Cross, – it’s on a main public thoroughfare where people have no choice to tune out – or hide from their kids eyes.
You can’t unsee what you’ve seen.
Shame on all involved.
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Absolutely disgusting – why would Foxtel want to even associate with such a sicko show/storyline is beyond me. And then to think it’s clever to put it on a billboard.
An absolute all time historic low for television and advertising.
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The Black Mirror (your mobile/tv/ipad) is all about taking a look at our culture and the mess we’ve got ourselves in.
Quite apt really
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Please honour the G classification for billboards
.. This image is unacceptable .. Very disappointing for this company and SBS
please respond . I would like to know of your intentions to remove the sign
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Charlie Brooker is awesome. This is a confronting episode in a confronting series.
But you do need to be a pretty sophisticated adult to understand the subtext. Or a very emotionally challenged one to believe that this will destroy the fabric of society.
Casting my eye down the comments, I spy, with my little eye, something beginning with C…
…and ending in …ollective Shout. The organisation for the world’s least capable, yet most overly concerned parents.
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This reeks of cheap and lazy marketing. A desperate cry for attention to distract from any decent programming.
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Was the PM played by Kevin Bacon? If not, why not?
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Yuk! Dumb marketing strategy… Now every time I stumble across STUDIO I’ll think of bloke porking a pig (unintentional pun)
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Wendy, it depends on who the billboard company is? The article doesnt say.
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foxtel should be taken off the air for ever and will cancel my foxtel
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The directors of Foxtel should be made to take their families – children and parents – to the site of the poster and and be made to explain how this is acceptable in a public arena.
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A guy in his undies with a pig? Abhorrent.
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“I didn’t have time to get fully dressed before I moved this pic out of the shed.” No explanation required.
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Christ, have we been invaded by the ACL? Love the new website btw. http://australianchristianlobby.org/ Who knew you guys were so accepting?
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wow foxtel shuld b ashaimed of this. im gunna tell every1 to cancel there foxtel becuase of this billboard. THIS IS WUT HAPPNS WHEN LABOUR IS N POWER!!!!
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“But you do need to be a pretty sophisticated adult to understand the subtext” … and explain it to me in language that my children can understand. I fear for neither my children nor for the fabric of society but rather for “pretty sophisticated adults”.
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Ashley, if EVER there was an advert to NOT vote for the Coalition you are it. Props.
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How is saying ‘as if kids haven’t seen this before…’, ‘as if they won’t have access on smart phones’ an acceptable excuse. Buck up and think things through seriously. This sort of scapegoating increases this behaviour, it doesn’t leave it at the status quo.
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So when that poor pig commits suicide after the public humiliation and shame of being outed for sleeping with a british politician, I expect we’ll have the usual spectacle of ABC executives trotting out the line “It was just a bit of fun – the important thing is WE DIDN’T BREAK ANY LAWS!”
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The ACL will be loving this billboard – more ammo for
their agenda to rid any billboard they find offensive. This is quite off but how many
Locals actually complained?
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@MR – Peter Goldsworthy wrote a fascinating novel ‘Wish’ many years ago about a man who teaches a gorilla sign language and then falls in love with the (female) gorilla. They go on to mate and are found by the gorilla’s owner. The owner is associated with an animal rights group and tries to prosecute the sign language teacher for rape as the gorilla (if she were human) is under the age of consent. It is actually quite a touching and moving story albeit quite out there! Mr Goldsworthy is a wonderful author and the way he addresses this extremely controversial topic is gripping. I thought you may find this interesting given your question.
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Sorry this isn’t offensive it is funny. There is no actual bestiality it is a piece of fiction design to get a reaction. Guess what they got one…lol
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This is animal abuse. I can’t believe it’s being celebrated like this. Awful.
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What is the age of consent for gorillas and pigs?
Asking for a friend, obv.
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Way to go Foxtel!!!!
Who was or were the geniuses , behind such an intelligent Advert!!
These people are worthy of being charged by Police for indecent exposure!!!!
What do others think? Our Laws are to soft even non existent!!
That’s why BONEHEADS like this do what they want!!!
The Poor Pig!!!
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It takes a considerable cretin to ignore the subtext of an allegory, instead taking it literally and contorting it to their
religiouspersonal agenda.It takes an even bigger cretin to see a partially clothed man and a pig on a poster and presume they are going to have sex. And then assuming that their kids will make this same projected leap.
As this thread demonstrates.
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zeffd and Encyclic!, the last thing the residents of Kings Cross want is a bestiality billboard to go with the injecting room and all the areas other problems.
People do live there, you know. It’s not one giant strip club.
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Well said @AdGrunt
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I think most of the comments are funnier than the ad itself, lol.
Let’s see…
1) There is no bestiality taking place in the pic.
2) There is no indecency in the pic.
3) No pig was harmed during the making of the programme.
4) The programme itself was harsh, thought provoking and excellent viewing.
5) People should shut up unless they know what they’re talking about. Watch it, *then* make your judgement.
6) Kings Cross? Innocent? lmao all day long.
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This show has already appeared on Australian TV I think under a different name. I thought the logic or lack of was very flawed. Struck me as being a brainwashing exercise. I actually think it is inappropriate for TV.
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Good looking pig though….
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Brave? How pompous and self-important.
Phoney generated controversy and very lazy, yes!
The picture does not entice any viewer who would be attracted to the sinister dark wit of the show. Campaign Fail
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