Wicked Campers ‘sexually explicit’ and ‘inappropriate’ van criticised by ad watchdog
Controversial rental van company has had one of its ads banned for the third time this month and 12th time this year, this time for using “sexually explicit” language.
The van, which says “life is like a bowl of soup, you only get blown when you’re hot…get it up ya”, has been deemed inappropriate to a wide audience which would include children.
Wicked Campers didn’t respond to the ruling
The complaint, which alerted Ad Standards to the van, said: “I have reported this South Australian based camper van hire company previously for it’s obscene messages scrawled on it’s hire vehicles, which are usually rented by overseas visitors (backpackers).
“This particular van was illegally parked in a suburban street in Byron Bay (street camping is forbidden in Byron Bay). Obscene and offensive messages on the van.”
Ad Standards agreed with the complaint, finding the van is likely to be seen by a broad audience which would include children and although there were no images associated with the text and the words themselves are not sexual, there is a clear sexual inference.
“The reference to a sexual act would be considered inappropriate by most members of the community in the context of an outdoor advertisement.
“The advertisement did not treat the issue of sex, sexuality and nudity with sensitivity to the relevant broad audience,” Ad Standards said upholding the complaints.
Wicked Campers did not respond to the ruling.
Abigail Dawson was Mumbrella's senior content journalist covering event content. She left Mumbrella to move into an agency role in 2020.
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I am begging you to please stop covering every bloody wicked camper van, FFS.
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I wonder if Wicked Campers get serviced at Ultratune.
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….it doesn’t matter if its relevant news to the industry…. we, your readership, don’t need to know everytime they take their daily steaming dump on the Ad Standards Board.
Get over Wicked and Honey Birdette, Mumbrella!
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