‘Offensive’ Dawn French poster gets approval despite complaints

A poster advertising Dawn French’s new tour has been given the green light – despite complaints over an obscenity.

The literature sparked a series of “serious offence” complaints to watchdog Advertising Standards Authority because it brands the 65-year-old actress and comedian “a huge t***”.

But the watchdog decided this was a “tongue-in-cheek” reference in line with the star’s persona, rather than a sexual reference, Manchester Evening News reports.

The group said: “We considered that most readers would likely be aware of who Dawn French was and her style of comedy, and that the use of the word would be understood by readers to be self-deprecating and tongue-in-cheek, and it was not, for example, used in a sexual context.

“We understood that the word t**t written in full was in line with the editorial style of The Sunday Times and that the word reflected similar use of language in the editorial sections of the newspaper where the word had been used in full, without any asterisks.

“Given the above, we therefore concluded that whilst some readers may have found the ad distasteful, it was unlikely to cause serious or widespread offence to its audience, and concluded that it did not breach the code.”

The ASA ruled no further action was necessary.

The tour, which starts in September and runs throughout the autumn, was advertised in The Sunday Times Culture magazine on December 4.

Since then, readers shared their ire with the watchdog at the language.

Promoter Phil McIntyre Live said it was regrettable that the ad had caused offence to the people who complained, but that the title of the show was humorous and aimed any offence at French herself. They said they would not advertise the title of the show in media or locations that would not allow them to use it in full or required them to blank out certain letters.

It further explained the term in question was one that was used by many people, including French, in their everyday lives. The Sunday Times also said that they had no comment and would await the outcome of the Advertising Standards Authority’s (ASA) investigation, but confirmed they had received no complaints about the ad.

Source: Read Full Article