Johnny Au
Senior Member
In and around Toronto, there are advertisements for media that are considered controversial.
A few years ago, there was a billboard ad for a radio station with the "Shirt on: OMG. Shirt off: OMFG." It was pulled down, as the latter's acronym suggests a copulating deity.
Taken from adstandards.com:
There are also advertisements within the past few years for horror movies, over-the-top action films, popular first-person shooter games, and popular wide area sandbox games. These are found in billboards, bus shelters, info stands, and on the side of buses.
See here for an example from a few years ago: http://www.thestar.com/entertainmen...olent-video-game-ads-pulled-from-bus-shelters
A few years ago, there was a billboard ad for a radio station with the "Shirt on: OMG. Shirt off: OMFG." It was pulled down, as the latter's acronym suggests a copulating deity.
Taken from adstandards.com:
Clause 14: Unacceptable Depictions and Portrayals | |
---|---|
Advertiser: | Virgin Radio |
Industry: | Media |
Region: | Ontario |
Media: | Out-of-home |
Complaint: | 8, plus a petition with 100 signatures |
Description: | An out-of-home advertisement for a radio station featured a musical star – Usher, with the tagline “Shirt On: OMG. Shirt Off: OMFG.” |
Complaint: | The language used in the advertisement was highly offensive and contravened standards of public decency. |
Decision: | Council understood that the acronym “OMFG” is commonly used by the youth demographic targeted by the Usher advertisement. However, the context and the content of the advertisement and the audience actually, or likely to be reached by the advertisement and the medium used to deliver the advertisement are relevant factors that must be taken into account in assessing conformity with the Code. To Council, it crossed the line of acceptability under the Code to use this acronym in an out-of-home advertisement to which persons of all ages, religious beliefs and sensitivities are exposed. Council therefore, found that the advertisement displayed obvious indifference to conduct or attitudes that offended standards of public decency prevailing among a significant segment of the population. |
Appeal: | On an appeal by the advertiser, the original decision of Council was confirmed. |
Infraction: | Clause 14(d). |
There are also advertisements within the past few years for horror movies, over-the-top action films, popular first-person shooter games, and popular wide area sandbox games. These are found in billboards, bus shelters, info stands, and on the side of buses.
See here for an example from a few years ago: http://www.thestar.com/entertainmen...olent-video-game-ads-pulled-from-bus-shelters
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