Buttholes, nangs, and ‘girl math’ were all the subject of the latest round of Ad Standards rulings.
This round of offenders of the AANA’s Codes of Ethics included audio company Southern Cross Austereo (SCA), bubble tea chain Chatime, baking goods retailer Cream Shop, clothing brand Donohues, and intimates brand SilkySilky.
SCA
The infringing radio ad featured a snippet of the Jimmy & Nath Born Funny podcast in which guest Josh Thomas remarked, “I think you’re underestimating how clean gay men’s butt holes are, we’re not licking straight men’s butt holes.”
To which Nathan Roye (Nath) responded, “Yeah, some of the cleanest butt holes going around.”
Jimmy Smith (Jimmy) and Roye then asked producer Jarryd to give a ”thumbs up,” to which Josh Thomas reacts, and all parties laugh.
According to the Ad Standards case file, complaints against the ad included the following: “included verbal graffic [sic] description of lewd sexual acts… I found it offensive and glad i did not have children in the car.”
The Ad Standards panel upheld the complaint, determining the advertisement did not treat sex, sexuality and nudity with sensitivity to the relevant audience, breaching section 2.4 of the AANA’s Code of Ethics.
In response to the decision, an SCA representative commented: “I note the decision and case report in relation to our advertisement for the Jimmy and Nath Born Funny podcast. I confirm our previous advice that we have discontinued the advertisement.”
See also: ‘A lot of merit’ to ARN and SCA merger: Morgan Stanley
Cha Time
Chatime’s email ad promoting a half-priced tea with the tagline “according to girl math, that’s basically free,” was determined to be in breach of section 2.1 (discrimination or vilification) of the Code, with the panel finding that “despite the attempt at humour, the ad perpetuates a negative stereotype that women are bad with money.”
Cream Shop
Cream Shop’s digital ad featured an image of piled silver nitrous oxide cylinders, accompanied by the text “Nang Delivery 24/7 Melbourne”.
While nitrous oxide is technically used for whipped cream, the panel considered that with its imagery and text, in conjunction with the promotion of speedy delivery for bulk purchases at all hours, strongly implied the purchase of the drug colloquially known as “nangs.”
The ad was found to be in breach of section 2.6 (health and safety) of the Code of Ethics.
Donohues
An ad for Donohues was found to be in violation of section 2.6 (health and safety) of the Code for depicting a family on a farm traveling on a utility terrain vehicle, with children shown unrestrained and seated in the rear cargo area.
SilkySilky
The retailer was found to have breached section 2.2 (exploitative or degrading) of the Code for its six advertisements depicting women in silk slip gowns accompanied by the tagline, “A gift that makes her prettier”.
Ad Standards is the complaint management community panel, for the Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA).
See also: Medical Association calls for digital ban on junk food ads