Sexualised potatoes, racist cavemen and Aryan beer ad complaints dismissed by ASB
Sexy potatoes, a caveman transformed by an electric razor, Big W, Coca-Cola and Pure Blonde are among the brands to have generated complaints rejected by the Ad Standards Board.
In the Pure Blonde ad created by Clemenger BBDO Melbourne, a crowd of blondes dressed in white fill the empty streets of Budapest creating “river of blonde” some viewers found racist.
Complaints received by the Ad Standards Board (ASB) said the ad was “overtly supremacist in its depiction of a white fair skinned pure blonde race of people.”
Seriously.. “The Board noted the community’s sensitivities to any depictions which could be considered to be making light of WW2 atrocities however the board considered that in this instance the advertisement is not suggesting that blond, ‘Aryan’, people are superior but is using them to represent the advertised product, Pure Blonde beer.”
So, what they’re saying is “We accept that they’re depicting a glorious procession of Aryan people down a street. But since they’re not exterminating a population in the process, it’s ok.”
This, after they cleared a gambling ad despite numerous complaints that it was insinuating that winning money increases your chances with women. The lyrics of the accompanying song are all about a passionate kiss between a man and a woman! It’s hardly bloody subliminal!!!
Then there’s this doozy: ““The lip gloss scene is very brief within the context of the whole advertisement and overall the advertisement is not condoning or encouraging behaviour which is contrary to prevailing community standards on health and safety.”
So, by that rationale, you can show anything you like, albeit quickly, as long as the community doesn’t currently have a particular stance on it.
I’m not calling into question the ads, the companies that made them or the companies that paid for them, but surely this is just non-decision making of the highest order, isn’t it?
Appalled that Phillips got away with it. We really are a racist society when we don’t even realise what we’re doing is wrong. The Phillips ad does insinuate that white men are successful and dark men are primitive. He doesn’t look dirty, he’s dark skinned. And shock horror, they actually painted his skin at the Shoot. Reeks of Hey Hey It’s Saturdays racist revival.
Agree re Phillips – it’s a shocker.
Nothing says that a dark skinned person is less hygienic than a white skinned person except for a statement that a dark skinned person is less hygienic than a white skinned person.
Since it is fairly clear (sorry if the word “fairly” offends) that a Neanderthal troglodyte person was probably not as white as a Nordic Teutonic hunter gatherer, but really, does it make a comparison of any kind other than archaic and modern practices, via ancient and modern man?
The gender is specific since it refers to shaving pubic facial hair.
As for the pure blonde ad. It is beautifully shot, beautifully conceived and relevant to the product name. Had it been a product called “Pure African,” then a scene depicting Black African people flooding the streets would have been equally appropriate.
I believe it is a case of drawing a very long bow and applying a mind set utterly unrelated to the subject, which evokes any connection with the vile and abominable actions of the Nazis.
Why aren’t the cave-men in revolt about this?
Hi. I am Jewish. I think this is stupid and I think some of my coreligionists need to get over themselves. Thank you.
These wowsers are unbelievable!!
They need to put some time in on 4chan and see things truly worth getting offended by.