- Phones 4 U 659 complaints – not upheld
A series of TV and video-on- demand ads featuring a ghost-like little girl prompted complaints that they were offensive, irresponsible, unduly distressing and inappropriately scheduled at a time when children might see them. Although we recognised the ads might cause some unease, we considered a post-7.30 pm restriction was appropriate.
- Littlewoods Home Shopping 585 complaints – not upheld
This online and broadcast ad generated a range of complaints including that it implied Father Christmas didn’t exist and was sexist because it suggested mum bought all the presents. After careful consideration, we judged that there was nothing in the ad that broke the rules.
- CSL Sofas 260 complaints – not upheld
This TV ad for sofas depicted three female models posing and dancing in lingerie. We appreciated that some viewers might have found the images distasteful and gratuitous, but we considered the ad not to be problematic
- Lynx 2012 Deoderant
214 complaints – not upheld
In a TV ad parody of the story of Noah’s Ark, a man attracted a hoard of women to his boat by spraying himself with deodorant. Viewers complained that the end of the world theme upset children mocked the Christian faith and was demeaning to women. We accepted the ad didn’t appeal to everyone, but it contained nothing explicit that would cause harm or serious or widespread offence.
- Travel Palestine
Travel Palestine 149 complaints – upheld in part
Complainants challenged whether a magazine ad promoting tourist sites in Palestine was misleading because it suggested Palestine was a recognised country and suggested areas, including Jerusalem, were in Palestinian- administered territory. We told the advertiser not to suggest that it was universally accepted that locations were part of Palestine when that was not the case.
- Durex Condoms
126 complaints – not upheld|
This TV ad for condoms sparked complaints that it was inappropriate to appear before the watershed and was unsuitable to be seen by children. Because the ad was scheduled away from when young children might be watching and did not contain any graphic images or content, the ad did not breach the Code.
- Lynx Shower Soap
115 complaints – upheld in part
A poster featured a woman under an outdoor shower wearing bikini bottoms and clasping an undone bikini top against her breasts. We considered that, alongside the strap line the cleaner you are the dirtier you get , the ad was likely to cause offence and was unsuitable to be seen by children.
- Phones 4 U 98 complaints – upheld
A national press ad for miraculous deals on mobile phones featured a cartoon illustration of Jesus Christ grinning broadly and winking. Because the ad was published during Easter, we considered it was disrespectful to the Christian faith and likely to cause serious offence.
- The Money Advice Service
80 complaints – not upheld
Complainants objected that a TV ad and website for financial products and services were misleading. We concluded that the advertiser’s claims about its advice service and that it was set up by Government had been substantiated.
- Phones 4 U 79 complaints – not upheld
Viewers considered a TV ad featuring a man being chased through the woods by a zombie to be offensive and unsuitable to be seen by children. We thought the post-7.30 pm restriction was sufficient to ensure it was unlikely to be seen by young children watching television alone.
The most complained about UK adverts of 2011
