Why do companies insist on pushing the limits with their ads or photo shoots? It's clear, controversy keeps consumers talking and with added eyes they hope it boosts awareness of their products while lining their pockets. But are there acts of "creative genius" any less deplorable? NOPE.
It's not like ridiculous ad campaigns are in short supply. Who could forget the Vogue Italia violent photo-shoot and the perverse American Apparel ad last year, but now that news has hit of the fresh controversy around Yves Saint Laurent, we were inspired to revisit some of the most scandalous campaigns of all time...and then things got really weird and uncomfortable.
Take a look for yourself.
Yves Saint Laurent
In what world did anyone think this advert was okay. You can actually see her ribcage, this must be one of the most irresponsible fashion campaigns we have seen, and thankfully it's been banned. 1 - 0 to common sense.
Burger King will "blow your mind away"
While reportedly being in the throes of financial despair a few years back, Burger King unleashed this fellatio inspired ad to the masses. You know, because when all else fails sex always sells.
Charles Antell's Formula 9 shampoo suggests suicide
If you can't get your hair to look just right, you should just go ahead and off yourself? Sounds legit.
American Apparel's bare breasted "Made in Bangladesh" ad
American Apparel is constantly feeding the beast of controversy with racy ads. It's no wonder their "Made In Bangladesh" campaign fit right in. What seemed to really irk spectators this time around, was the company using Maks, a merchandiser originally from Bangladesh, as a way to (as they claim) diminish horrors found in the country's garment industry. The company vehemently denied the claims, stating their intentions were actually quite the opposite.
United Colors of Benetton photoshops world leaders kissing
Like American Apparel, Italian based fashion brand, United Colors of Benetton, are known for eyebrow-raising campaigns. Their "UNHATE" ad got folks talking after they featured photoshopped images of various world leaders kissing.
12 Magazine's "Victim of Beauty" spread
It seems Vogue Italia isn't the only glossy showcasing battered women as a thing of beauty. A couple years back, 12 magazine ran a spread where female models appeared painfully injured. When they received backlash, their editors were forced to respond.
"We believe that images such as ours can be seen from various angles, and we think that exactly that is what is beautiful about fashion and photography in general – that anybody can understand it their own way,and fill it with their own meaning," They said. "Where some see a brutal wound, others see a skilful (sic) work of an artist, or an exquisite face of a beautiful girl."
What do we see? The pain women endure being sold for a profit.
St. Matthews-in-the-City invades Mary and Joseph's bedroom
St. Matthews-in-the-City of New Zealand, is a church notorious for controversial billboards. Case in point, the above ad which hints at Joseph being inadequate in the sack. "Poor Joseph," it reads. "God was a hard act to follow.”
Um, who thought this was clever?
Mr. Leggs thinks its okay to walk all over women...literally
Lovely. Just what every girl dreams about, Mr. Leggs.
Tom Ford's pervy fragrance ad
We're guessing Tom Ford isn't the only one getting off on seeing his products on the pages of magazines. When he launched his first fragrance for men he stooped to the age old ad man technique of promising men they'd get more sex from using his fragrance. Don Draper would be ashamed.
French anti-smoking campaign says lighting up "makes you a slave to tobacco"
While it's a well documented fact smoking is terrible for you, a French ad took matters to new shocking levels in 2010. They portrayed teenagers on their knees, at the waist of a man, with a cigarette between their lips. The slogan reads, "Smoking means being a slave to tobacco."
It's gross on multiple levels.
Peta's "Fur Trim: Unattractive" ad
Peta doesn't know when to chill.
This ad featuring swimsuit model and "Real Housewives of Miami" star Joanna Krupa still gives us the creeps. Ugh.
Humans for Animals battered baby ad
Humans for Animals based their battered baby ad on the premise, "Don't treat others the way you don't want to be treated." The result was horrifying to say the very least.
Numéro magazine's "African Queen" poses in blackface
Numéro magazine caught major flack for their "African Queen" spread featuring caucasian model, Ondria Hardin, painted in blackface. The photographer, Sebastian Kim, later issued an apology, insisting their intention was never to depict a black woman, but instead, a tanned one.
Sure.
What are your thoughts on these controversial ads? Tweet us @sofeminineUK!
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