Controversial! The Banned Perfume Adverts They Didn’t Want You To See
In the wake of THAT Rihanna BBHMM video, it seems like the general public of today are growing impervious to shock tactics. With advertising standards stronger than ever, are today’s adverts and campaigns really that bad?
Today, we take a look at the most scandalous perfume ads ever.
Let’s start with a mild shock factor – a naked picture of Sophie Dahl for YSL.
Yves Saint Laurent Opium
Created over 15 years ago and shot by the legendary Steven Meisel, it features the then red-headed Dahl in a striking, but suggestive looking position.
After hundreds of complaints, the Opium ad was banned from billboards, but was still allowed to be shown in magazines. It was also approved when the image was rotated 90 degrees, so that the pose was less suggestive (but still naked).
This was shot when Tom Ford was at YSl, so we’re not that surprised, given that Tom Ford makes another appearance in our naughty list later.
Beyoncé Heat
With over a decade in the business, Queen B rarely puts a foot wrong. It was her first fragrance in 2010 that got her in hot water as she was deemed to be showing too much of her bootylicious body. That, plus a lot of suggestive writhing around, in a billowing dress that would have better served as a scarf.
The ASA ruled it was too hot for daytime telly and it was only allowed to be shown after the watershed – y’know, because all children will have miraculously gone to bed by then.
We love Beyoncé and this advert, but perhaps with less moaning and sighing it wouldn’t have been so awkward when seeing this on TV with our parents around.
Marc Jacobs Oh, Lola!
This advert is the one that has caused the most debate among our team. Featuring a young Dakota Fanning as a Lolita-type, no one would have blinked an eyelid if she didn’t have a ginormous bottle of Oh,Lola! positioned at her crotch.
Dakota, was only 17 but already a veteran actress so not quite an underage child who’s been taken advantage of, though arguably still a child.
When asked for comment, both Marc Jacobs and Dakota Fanning claimed it was just an innocent pose not intended to provoke. The ASA didn’t agree and banned this advert, claiming the overt sexualisation of a child.
WARNING: This next ad is definitely not safe for work. I’m no prude but I have to say I averted my eyes at first!
Tom Ford For Men
There’s no denying it. This advert was going to be banned right from the start. This men’s fragrance ad from 2007 is unashamedly sexual, with the fragrance bottle placed front and centre with big emphasis on the naked lady parts.
The Tom Ford campaign also included images of the fragrance bottle squished between a lady’s cleavage. This is what happens when you get Tom Ford together with Terry Richardson – another of fashion’s most controversial personalities and the man behind Miley Cyrus’ Wrecking Ball.
What is it with Tom Ford ads? Even his latest one with Cara Delevigne for Black Orchid caused huge outcry when it was unveiled.
Unsurprisingly, the ad was banned – but here’s the strange bit, it was actually only banned in Italy! Someone must have been having a very good day at the UK Advertising Standards Authority….
Sean Combs 3AM
Finishing our list is Diddy himself. Only released a few months ago but it’s definitely contending for most controversial advert alongside these older ones. The advert for Diddy’s 3AM fragrance is more of a music-video style and starring alongside him is his actual girlfriend Cassie.
Although, we love real life couples doing stuff together on screen (think Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone in Spiderman, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in Twilight), we do NOT love it when ‘doing stuff together’ turns out to be ‘doing each other.’
Yep, you heard – someone in Diddy’s team thought it would be a fabulous idea to have Diddy and Cassie spend a whole advert doing the nasty. Somehow Diddy manages to keep most of his clothes on but there are plenty of close ups of a near naked Cassie being manhandled and tossed around in the throes of passion.
Naturally, it was banned from TV and sponsors refused to sell the product unless a more suitable advert was created. At least they probably had fun making the first one..
Are you offended yet? Did these adverts deserve to be banned? Or are they just all to be expected these days? Let us know your thoughts and tweet us @YahooStyleUK!
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