ASA Orders Withdrawal Of Ali G Poster
The Advertising Standards Authority has ordered Universal International Pictures to withdraw a controversial poster for the new Ali G film after it generated over a hundred complaints in less than a week.
The poster, which features Ali G with his arm between a naked women’s legs, has been branded “offensive” and “unsuitable” by members of the general public and the ASA’s director general, Christopher Graham, said: “This poster has clearly caused serious offence to those who saw it and we have acted promptly to ensure that the image is taken down and stays down.”
The ASA ruled that many would regard the poster as offensive and rebuked the advertisers for using “such a controversial image” in an untargeted medium. As a result United International Pictures will have to submit all of its print and poster ads to the ASA’s Copy Advice team for pre-approval for the next two years.
Graham added: “Only one poster contractor had accepted the image for display and did so against the advice of the CAP team.”
Ali G’s creator, Sacha Baron Cohen, has caused considerable controversy in the run up to the release of his film Ali G Indahouse and last month the Radio 1 DJ Sara Cox was forced to broadcast an apology after the spoof rapper swore repeatedly during a live interview.
ASA: 020 7580 5555 www.asa.org.uk
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