Mars’ naked mum ad deemed ‘morally wrong’ in complaint to ad watchdog
A complaint made to the ad watchdog about the morality of Mars Bar Australia’s recent life drawing ad has been dismissed.
The campaign, created by Clemenger BBDO Melbourne, features a boy in a life drawing class who realises the life model in front of him is his naked mother.
Interesting that the first 2 ads that have made me laugh in a long time, both had to defend themselves against complaints. Are the complaining public responsible for all the garbage passing as TVC’s at the moment. Let’s more ads with “crazy”people dancing for joy.
I laughed myself silly when I saw the ad for the first time. “teenage child”? – how old is the mother? Looks like another example of millennials trying to drag us all back into the Victorian era! Good to see the panel is more in touch with the real world.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but it was not the teenager who complained? it was the mother “trying to drag us all back into the Victorian era!” Another example one of us boomers blaming those damn kids for something we did!
Also, Millenials are aged between 22 – 37. Sooo… not even close to being relevant.
Why not relevant? Mother at 24; teenage (13 year old) “child” at 37…. Sounds spot on demographically to me.
You are quite correct, it was the mother. Today’s teenagers are not millennials, today’s mothers are. We boomers are now the grandparents (or hadn’t you noticed time flying by!!!???)
Looking at the age of the mother and the son in the advert, neither are millennial. The mother would be Gen X? Or since Millennial definitions can cover 1982 to 2004 (yep 34 yo and 14 yo all in the same group, it is a meaningless group).
This could be an ad for anything. A lot of disciples of the E Bass institute, like Mars, end up producing these kind of generic ads. Annoyingly, we’re going to be seeing this execution an awful lot in the next few years.
Agree! Had a good chuckle and yes, not many ads deserve a positive response, ie the latest Westpac foe one.
Agree! Had a good chuckle and not offensive at all. What I find offensive are bank ads when they portray themselves as caring when they have been proved the complete opposite. No names but one starts with W.
keep up the funny stuff mars marketers, don’t listen to the prudes.
This was the funniest ad I have seen in a long time.
Dear offended people: shutup and go back to Millionaire Hot Seat safe spaces!
“This is morally wrong and children/offspring should not be around their parents naked – at any age.”
F*ck me, that sounds like a fun household to be brought up in – they sounds like the Mum in ‘Carrie’.
A disgrace? Wow – what sort of a life does that person live? They’re seriously screwing their kid up if they’re so afraid of letting them see their body.
The only immoral part of the ad was the crap it was selling.
There are some seriously sick people in Australia if they are offended by this ad.
Haha that is actually “my” Mum, sure it’s a bit weird and all, but yeah It was just for a laugh, I found it funny. And if there was anybody that should be offended I’m #1. I’m not offended, it’s an ad. And it wasn’t explicit or rude. Not going to lie that I was embarrassed seeing it on my mates tv in an commercial break haha. But it is lighthearted, and I don’t think you are supposed to read into anymore…..it’s not a cryptic crossword or subliminal messaging. I can see why people got angry at the see you in the Northern Territory ad campaign for sure…but comedy..meh comedy has always been about getting people out of their comfort zone, it really helps society break down barriers. Unfortunately this ad’s message was just one of mirth…I believe it holds no truth or underlying morals or even a hidden agenda. Look, it’s still not my cup of tea (obviously hahaha it’s me mum!) but I’m not offended. Maybe just a little embarrassed haha.
When you consider that those who who sit in unelected, unrepresentative authority to “judge” appropriateness of advertising are smug, PC motherf****ers, it’s not surprising that they’d approve of an ad which alludes to such a practice.
Your comment doesn’t even make sense. So “people” didn’t ban an ad because it contains people doing something you don’t agree with, that someone who is just as prudish as you complained about, and somehow that involves those people being PC. Whatever. Go back to the letters page in the Gaily Telegraph.
*Daily Telegraph
That was a genuine typo.
Yeh, lighten up!