‘Fascist-killer’ campervan offensive
Sexualised imagery, inciting to kill and foul language have earned the ire of the Advertising Standards Authority.
The much-maligned Wicked Campers featured in the latest complaints to the authority, while other complaints have been upheld against a ‘‘straight-talking’’ law firm in Pukekohe and a tattoo artist spotted in New Plymouth.
One complaint related to a Wicked Campers vehicle bearing the slogan ‘‘this machine kills Fascists’’.
The authority agreed the wording was provocative and offensive, after the complainant had claimed it incited killing.
The complainant said they regarded other complaints about Wicked Camper slogans – at least four have been upheld by the authority this year – as a bit of a laugh, but this one ‘‘may have crossed the line of terrorism’’.
Wicked Campers did not respond to the complaints board, which it said was a concern.
In another decision released this week, the authority upheld a complaint against Pukekohe law firm Arnet Law.
This related to an advertisement which appeared in a community newspaper, and said: ‘‘Negotiating with an a..hole? We’ve got a lawyer for that.’’
The complainant said the advertisement offended common decency, even with the use of asterisks, and was quite unsuited to a law firm.
In response, Arnet Law said it had used an award-winning creative consultant.
‘‘Arnet Law uses the mantra of being straight-talking lawyers. We keep things simple and straight-forward.
‘‘We use terms that understands.’’
Lawyer Gavin Arnet said yesterday he had not yet read the decision.
The final complaint upheld by the authority this month involved a company called Why Not Tattoos.
A van seen in New Plymouth bearing the company’s name and contact number also sported sexualised imagery of topless women.
The ASA found the advertisement was likely to cause serious or widespread offence.
Why Not Tattoos did not respond to the complaint despite numerous attempts to contact the company. everyone