Reebok trainers’ ad given the bum’s rush in Glasgow
A racy trainers advert has elicited the ire of Glasgow’s puritanical city fathers for daring to display the word ‘bum’ in print.
Deeming the ad “too racy” despite removal of a well formed bottom Glasgow City Council vetoed the campaign with one councillor aghast that the model would dare to display bear ankles asking: “What’s wrong with a pair of socks?”
The licensing committees policy on taxi advertising bans any promotions which display “semi nude figures” in a “sexually provocative manner”, anything offensive to “public taste”, or that depicts people as “sexual objects.”
It was also feared that the eye catching display would cause a “distraction” or “nuisance” to other road users.
The mild slang term was used to convey the toning benefits of Reebok’s new EasyTone running shoes and was to be emblazoned across city cabs as part of a £4m global marketing campaign.
Reebok UK’s brand director, Kath Smith, said: The EasyTone advertising is intended to clearly communicate the benefits of the footwear in a fun way.”
Sports retailer Greaves was forcibly evicted from the hearing after refusing to cease questioning councillors over the apparent double standards of permitting lap dancing adverts but not an advert for shoes.
The campaign sees ads displayed on billboards in New York, Boston, Berlin, Barcelona and Madrid… but not Glasgow.