Community concerns about sexually suggestive content in advertising headlines the top 10 list of most complained about advertisements to 30 June. Concerns about violence are also highlighted.
So far this year Ad Standards has processed over 4,000 complaints, an increase of over 1,000 compared to the same period in 2017. The first half of 2018 also produced two of the most complained about advertisements in Ad Standards’ 20-year history.
All but two of the 10 most complained about advertisements were on free-to-air TV with two pay TV advertisements making the list.
- 0116/18 – Sportsbet – TV – Free-to-air
A man is seen naked from the waist up and appears to be manscaping.
Upheld.
Number of complaints: 793
Issues of concern: 2.1 – Discrimination or vilification, 2.2 – Exploitative or degrading, 2.3 – Violence and 2.4 – Sex/sexuality/nudity.
- 0113/18 – iSelect – TV – Free-to-air
A woman aggressively hits a piñata in front of a group of children.
Upheld.
Number of complaints: 715
Issues of concern: 2.1 – Discrimination or vilification, 2.3 – Violence and 2.6 – Health and safety.
- 0026/18 – Ultra Tune – TV – Free-to-air
Three women driving to a costume party crash a car avoiding a tiger on the road, Mike Tyson appears to help.
Dismissed.
Number of complaints: 134
Issues of concern: 2.1 – Discrimination or vilification, 2.2 – Exploitative or degrading, 2.4 – Sex/sexuality/nudity and 2.6 – Health and safety.
- 0047/18 – Youfoodz – TV – Free-to-air
A couple discusses the times and place they ‘do it’ it is then revealed they are talking about eating Youfoodz meals.
Dismissed.
Number of complaints: 49
Issues of concern: 2.4 – Sex/sexuality/nudity and 2.5 – Language.
- 0030/18 – Yum Restaurants International – TV – Free-to-air
A couple is shown a drawing their child completed of ‘Mum and Dad naked wrestling’, the parents then suggest going to KFC.
Dismissed.
Number of complaints: 46
Issues of concern: 2.4 – Sex/sexuality/nudity.
- 0065/18 – Universal Pictures – TV – Free-to-air
A trailer for the film ’50 Shades Freed’.
Upheld.
Number of complaints: 39
Issues of concern: 2.2 – Exploitative or degrading, 2.3 – Violence, and 2.4 – Sex/sexuality/nudity.
- 0037/18 – ARN – TV – Free-to-air
A woman bends over in front of a man who is trying to remove bird droppings from her hair in an elevator, another person refuses to enter the elevator due to the awkward scene.
Dismissed.
Number of complaints: 36
Issues of concern: 2.4 – Sex/sexuality/nudity.
- 0159/18 – NEDS – TV – Free-to-air
A woman checks on the progress of a construction site and all the workers are using their mobile phones at morning tea break.
Dismissed.
Number of complaints: 22
Issues of concern: 2.1 – Discrimination and vilification, Wagering Code.
- 0137/18 – Sportsbet – TV – Pay
A man is seen naked from the waist up and appears to be manscaping.
Upheld.
Number of complaints: 21
Issues of concern: 2.4 – Sex/sexuality/nudity.
- 0114/18 – iSelect – TV – Pay
A woman aggressively hits a piñata in front of a group of children.
Upheld.
Number of complaints: 19
Issues of concern: 2.3 – Violence, and 2.6 – Health and safety.