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    5 fashion campaigns banned around the world


    Fashion always falls back on old standards. Their ad campaigns are no exception. Creating controversy with violent or hyper-sexual print ads garners attention. But at what cost? Ask Calvin Klein. His brand has been leading the charge of controversial campaigns for two decades. The latest has been banned down under by Australia's Advertising Standards Bureau. The billboard was removed from various locations for being "suggestive of violence and rape...and for demeaning to women by suggesting that she's a plaything of these men." Judge for yourself. Then have a look at some past campaigns that have also gotten the smack-down.

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    109 comments

    • Jasper's Mom  •  Denver, Colorado  •  1 month 0 days ago
      The one with the hearts is the only one I feel is at all acceptable. It sends a great message and uses the startling photo to get attention. All the rest range from bad taste to utterly tasteless (inclusing the other Benetton ad - sheer sensationalism). Tom Ford, whoever he may be, clearly has a problem with women being shown as anything other than gang-bang victims who lie back and enjoy it.
      But, I doubt that anyone who would buy from any of these advertisers will care about any of these, so long as they can own and wear clothes that all their peers can instantly appraise the cost of. Cha-ching!
    • Sunshine  •  Arlington, Virginia  •  29 days ago
      *POSITIVE!*POSITIVE!*POSITIVE MESSAGES* WE NEED POSITIVE MESSAGES FROM ADS!?! Not rape and violence against women!?! People wake up! What has the world come to!?! Shame! I want to ask Calvin Klein & Tom Ford if their photographers and creative heads are men - coz if they were woman, I hope they won't conceive such a thing!?!
    • smoothjazz7  •  Meriden, Connecticut  •  1 month 0 days ago
      The problem is that people see things differently. Some might see these ads are tasteful and appropriate, while others see the opposite. EVERYONE'S opinion is valid and should be respected.
    • EpicBob7  •  1 month 0 days ago
      Looking the parts like a heart is creepy.
    • SheriB  •  5 months ago
      If some weirdo made these kind of pics in his basement and got caught, he'd go to jail. Why is it acceptable if you are a famous designer?
    • ZachariahF  •  5 months ago
      To all the people speaking about how thinking these are distasteful is ignorant... You're absolutely correct. I can tell you from personal experience that women are just as sexual, and get just as turned on by these types of ads. Some people like feeling like their partner has power over them. Some don't. All people are different. These pictures are obviously about consentual activities between men and women. Sex sells. So if you're creating an add directed towards the generally sexually active populace, it makes sense to create ads like these. I'm so fed up with all the talk about how these are promoting rape and sexual abuse. Let's look at the Dolce and Gabbana ad. The man isn't even between her legs! My fiancee loves it when I hold her arms down like that. It's not hurting her, and to be honest, the lady in the ad looks like she's trying to portray a porn star haha. We need to stop being afraid to mention, view, or have a casual conversation about sex. It is completely natural, and sex just for the sake of sex has been around for a very long time. Thousands of years ago, men used animal bladders as condoms, and "prostitutes" at that point weren't even that. They were religious figures that were considered close to their god, and so men would have sex with those women, and then leave donations for the religious institutions that were then used to improve overall daily life because they felt as if they had been brought closer to the heavens. Why is modern culture so damn fearful of mentioning it? Inform the populace about all the dangers, and then suddenly, these ads don't matter, because everyone knows that it's a real issue, but the ads aren't real. They're just photo shoots designed to get you to recognize their brand.
    • Karen S  •  5 months ago
      I like the Tom Ford one, it's funny.
    • Saka_Sandora  •  6 months ago
      I liked the one with the hearts. The ad is almost saying, 'its not waht matters on the outside, its what matters on the inside'. The rest are trash.
    • Marquessa  •  6 months ago
      The lady with the finger in her mouth... what is she advertising... sunglasses... lipstick... whatever. Not a good ad at all.
    • wolfcat87  •  6 months ago
      The only one in bad taste was the flipping the bird looking one. The rest looked like good advertising to me.
    • Trivian  •  6 months ago
      Shame on them! Wow, who think of these ads. Crumy and cruel ideas for ads.
    • TheVoice  •  6 months ago
      Some of the people in that industry are clearly sick.
    • RODNEY  •  5 months ago
      The comment that Stephanie leaves is probably the epitome of clueless these ads are a big deal we need to pride ourselves on the beautiful the artistic the creative not the perverse depraved or just different for arts sake with no responsibility grooming the society for the good mud is beautiful to a hippo but its not for everyone how about a picture of a book on good taste slicing through Stepahnie's little brain would that be a nice image for Calvin [pedophile] Klein?
    • Susan  •  5 months ago
      Regarding the Calvin Klein and the Dolce & Gabbana ads....Why does is have to portray rape? Maybe it portrays a very sexual woman having fun with a couple of guys? I don't really see where the women look uncomfortable or hurt in any way. But they are just models posing, no one actually got raped or had an orgy (atleast I would think not), so just calm down people!
    • Victoria Schmidt  •  6 months ago
      I think it's funny how sensitive people are. This is EXACTLY the type of advertisement response that the producers are looking for. Get upset, talk and complain, (don't forget to mention our name please!!) and of course being offended is a plus so we can laugh at you people giving our company free publicity.. come on people. Look, laugh, shrug, get on with life. LoL Life is too short to get upset by ignorance.
    • Andy  •  6 months ago
      where did they ever dig up the people who came up with this crap! quite abhorring!
    • Andy  •  6 months ago
      yo! stephanie what rock where you dig up from?!
    • AmberH  •  6 months ago
      how the f--- are any of these offensive? seriously. people need to stop being so offended easily. how about instead of immediately assuming it's offensive, try figuring out what the ad was trying to get across.
    • beth o  •  6 months ago
      Very interesting how Female sexuality is considered vulgar and in poor taste. As if a woman having several men all over her couldn't possibly be something she would desire and revel in... however if the roles are reversed it's the most generic form of male fantasy and people barely bat an eyelash.
    • Bobby  •  6 months ago
      A play thing for a bunch a men...who are probably more in to each other