5 Ads That The ASA Found More Offensive Than Those Beach Body Ready Banners

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You might remember a few months or so ago when Protein World took the controversial steps of promoting bikini bodies with their range of weight loss supplements and everybody was outraged.

The complaints quite rightly spanned an all manner of grumbles from how ludicrously irresponsible it was in its blatant use of body shaming, to how much it objectified women.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) received almost 400 complaints, while there was also a huge protest in London’s Hyde Park and an online petition that brought 70,000 signatures calling for it to be banned.

It’s safe to say that people were pretty bloody offended. Which makes it incredibly odd that the ASA, having looked at the ad (and widespread outrage) concluded: “The headline and image were unlikely to cause serious or widespread offence.”

Seriously? Does nobody at the ASA have a Twitter account? Or eyes and ears?

Anyhow, with that in mind, here are five ads that did offend the ASA.

Paddy Power

The famed betting house has turned itself into a Twitter superpower in recent years, although that didn't stop the world and the ASA from getting annoyed by this misjudged Oscar Pistorious gag and betting offer depending on his trial outcome.

The ASA said: "The ad caused serious offence by trivialising the issues surrounding a murder trial, the death of a woman and disability." 

Offence Rating: 5/5

On a scale of moral issues that goes between one and ten, this just roundhouse kicked Katy Hopkins.

British Safety Council

An old-school condom advert that uses The Pope as it's posterboy, it was always going to annoy people wasn't it?

After a barrage of complains the ASA noted the good intentions of the ad but agreed it was quite offensive to Catholics.

Offence rating: 3/5

Rewording religious texts for your own gain is quite bad really, but at least they were supporting a good cause, no?

The Christian Party

A political party formed around Christianity, the appropriately named Christian Party decided to advertise themselves with these banners. Athiests obviously frothed themselves into angry messes and complained like no tomorrow. The ASA agreed that it was a bit offensive to non-believers and that the claim couldn't really be substantiated. Which is fair.

Offence rating: 3/5

Meh, do you really care? Preachers gon' preach - it's sort of what they do. That colour scheme on the other hand? Awful.

Volkswagon

The car company created an advert in 2008 that showed an engineer fighting clones of himself. We're not really sure why he was doing that, but he was and it was awesome.

The ASA disagreed though and thought it was slightly too violent. It wasn't, it was just awesome. As a result of not realising how awesome this is they pushed it to post-watershed airings. Which just made it more awesome.

Offence rating: 1/5

This advert is awesome. Watch it here.

Yves St Laurent

If this advert came out in 2015 and not 2000 it would have broken the internet Kim Kardashian style. Instead it sent everybody loopy with cries that it was sexually suggestive and degrading to women. As such the advert was promptly removed. 

Offence rating: 2/5

OK, it is a bit inappropriate but by modern standards it's no worse than most music videos.