Cannes Lions strips 'paedophile ad' of awards
As predicted by The Drum, the organisers of the Cannes Lions festival have stripped a controversial campaign of its prestigious awards because the agency could not prove the ads had ran.
Brazilian agency Moma Propaganda won a Silver Lion in the press category and a Bronze in outdoor at June's ceremony for a campaign it entered on behalf of Kia Motors.
But the ads, entitled Teacher and Princess, were accused of being paedophilic and Kia denied having ever worked with the agency.
Philip Thomas, CEO of the Cannes Lions festival, said: "The Cannes Lions rules state clearly that if requested, proof must be provided that campaigns ran and were legitimately created for a fee-paying client.
"Despite many conversations, Moma Propaganda have not provided the proof we require and therefore the Lions have been withdrawn.”
As well as suffering the indignity of having its awards revoked, Moma Propaganda has also been banned from entering next year's awards ceremony.
"On this occasion, a decision has been made to ban any work created by those credited on the entry for one year. Therefore entries will not be accepted from these individuals for the 2012 Cannes Lions Festival,” said Thomas.