Gucci Gets Go-Ahead for Pubic Hair Ad

Reuters / Yahoo ^ | 2/26/2003

[FreedomPoster]

Gucci Gets Go-Ahead for Pubic Hair Ad

LONDON (Reuters) - A Gucci advertisement featuring a woman with her pubic hair cropped in the shape of a letter "G" got the go-ahead from Britain's tough advertising watchdog on Wednesday.

Sixteen outraged members of the public had complained to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) that the Italian fashion house's advert was indecent.

But the ASA, which has a reputation for taking a harder line than its counterparts in other European countries, judged the advertisement was targeted at sophisticated, adult fashion magazine readers who would not be offended.

"The image was intimate rather than aggressive and... although it was likely to be considered tasteless by some readers, it was unlikely to cause serious or widespread offence," the ASA said in a statement.

The advert, which is running in British fashion magazines, shows a woman wearing an open silk kimono and underwear which she has pulled part-way down to reveal the letter "G." A man kneels in front, staring at her pubic hair.

The advertisers aimed to provoke and viewed the image as "the ultimate ironic pun for a sexy brand in a logo-led age," the ASA said. Gucci believed "the image addressed today's reality that men and women's sexual roles were changing," the statement added.

French brewers Kronenbourg poked fun at Britain's tight rules with a recent advert depicting a naked woman with her breasts blacked out next to the slogan "If Britain were French, this poster wouldn't be censored."

The Gucci photo was taken by Peruvian fashion photographer Mario Testino, who is well known in Britain for his shoots of celebrities and some members of the royal family including the late Princess Diana.

Gucci could not immediately be reached for comment on the ASA decision.

[FreedomPoster]

No, I'm not making this up. Words fail me.

I'm not posting the pic directly. Don't know how long that link will stay alive.

[FreedomPoster]

ping

[Constitution Day]

G-whiz!

[goodnesswins]

"Gucci believed "the image addressed today's reality that men and women's sexual roles were changing," the statement added."

In THEIR worlds.....

[pubmom]

I'm afraid to look, but I'm pinging a few friends.

[pubmom]

I'm afraid to look, but I'm pinging a few friends.

[CaptainK]

I always wondered where the "G" spot really was.

[Living Free in NH]

I'm afraid to look...

I know I'm going to take a beating for this but, hey, it's just a joke...

OK, here goes...

With a name like "pub"mom, what are you afraid of?

Very sorry if you're offended.

[Billthedrill]

If Britain were French, this poster wouldn't be censored...

If it were Japan, it'd be cancelled and the advertiser would be fined. Pubic hair is strictly verboten there (nekkid 9-year-olds aren't. Go figure.) So what?

Personally, I think it's a great idea. I'm too chicken to get a tattoo, but I'm thinking in terms of an American eagle down there...a little hair dye and we'd get the red, white, and blue thing going too...I'd walk around showing folks on the street but my trenchcoat is at the cleaners...

[skeeter]

The ad conveys more an air of juvenility than sophistication, IMO.

[mikeb704]

A Gucci advertisement featuring a woman with her pubic hair cropped in the shape of a letter "G" got the go-ahead from Britain's tough advertising watchdog on Wednesday.

Oh, yes. it must be so very tough a watchdog.

Michael M. Bates: My Side of the Swamp

[NeoCaveman]

G-whiz!

Gee, what can be said about this spot?

I suppose I could string some puns together but I guess I won't

[KellyAdmirer]

I'm curious how they figure a picture of a naked woman and a clothed man says anything provocative about "changing sex roles." As if this is somehow unusual. Sounds more like a lame pornographer's attempt to evade obscenity laws, which is what it is. They take the public for fools.

[MattAMiller]

That could have been done in a fun playful way. But they made it as iky as possible. I've seen this sort of stuff before. I don't know who they think likes to look sexualy explicit images where nobody appears to be enjoying themselves.

[FreedomPoster]

From your side of the pond.

[scouse]

It looks like a diet menu for carpet munchers.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Can the "Absolut Pubes" advertisement be far behind?

[null and void]

I'm curious how they figure a picture of a naked woman and a clothed man

There was a clothed man???

[FreedomPoster]

>>G-whiz!

You think this will make the G-block on Shep's show on FNC?
(he says, in his best "butter wouldn't melt in his mouth" voice)

[ClearCase_guy]

I'm curious how they figure a picture of a naked woman and a clothed man says anything provocative about "changing sex roles."

Indeed. It seems to me that they are branding a woman as a product that can be purchased. The man is clothed, just like an actual human being. The woman is a faceless commodity.

Ummmm. Progress? Changing Roles? Cheered by Leftists who like to "speak truth to power"?