ESPN drops Paddy Power’s ‘transgendered ladies’ advert
ESPN will no longer show the Paddy Power advert inviting viewers to spot the ‘transgendered ladies’ in the crowd during the Cheltenham racing festival.
The ad, which has so far been broadcast by Sky Sports and will also be shown on Channel 4, has led to 473 complaints to the ASA from people saying it incites transphobia.
A spokesperson from ESPN said: "We've reviewed the commercial in question, and have made an internal editorial decision that it will not run on ESPN.”
The ad, which was passed by Clearcast, offers to make Ladies' Day "even more exciting by adding some beautiful transgendered ladies: Spot the stallions from the mares".
Paddy Power has said that the ad was just "mild-mannered fun".
UPDATED: Channel 4 and Sky have now pulled the ad, despite saying that they would continue to air it.