ASA raps metal band for being too sexual but Lady Gaga escapes ad ban
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A poster for hair metal parody band Steel Panther has been banned by the advertising watchdog for being “overtly sexual”, while a raunchy TV spot for fellow Universal artist Lady Gaga has escaped censure.
The rock band’s poster featured a scantily clad woman dangling a string between her legs with two silver balls attached. Large text below the woman stated “BALLS OUT” - the title of the band’s album.
The poster sparked a complaint from Imkaan, a charity that raises awareness and supports women from ethnic backgrounds who have been victims of abuse, as well as other members of the public.
Imkaan and the other complainants challenged that the ad was offensive because the image of the woman was “demeaning” and too sexual in nature, and that it was unsuitable for public display where it might be seen by children.
Universal Island Records responded that the poster was designed to “poke fun at the ridiculousness of the attitude to women, outfits and music” in the 80s era - the decade Steel Panther’s music and look lampoons - and that it was not intended to undermine women.
The record company added that most of the poster sites were close to areas popular with adults for nightlife, although it admitted it could have taken more care in the siting of posters to ensure they were not seen by children.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) noted that the poster was not meant to be taken seriously and was meant to represent the “over the top” image of Steel Panther, but said that most people - even when viewing the image in context - would deem the ad as overtly sexual, especially as the silver balls were suggestive of male genitalia.
The regulator added that because the poster was placed in an array of public locations it was likely to cause “serious and widespread offence” and it was unsuitable to be seen by children and it was not appropriate for outdoor advertising.
Separately, a Universal TV ad campaign for Lady Gaga was deemed suitable for broadcast, despite sparking a complaint that it was not appropriate for young viewers.
The ad, a compilation of clips from Lady Gaga videos, featured the pop star in various states of undress in outfits including stockings, suspenders and a body harness. The “Bad Romance” singer was also featured writhing on the floor displaying her cleavage, kissing the floor and “sensually” rubbing her stomach.
Universal Music said the ad was scheduled in programmes to reach a target audience of 16- to 44-year-old women and that the “provocative” dance moves were regularly shown on high rotation in Lady Gaga videos on various music channels.
The ASA said it had considered a timing restriction to ensure the more sexual material in the spot was kept away from children, but noted that the ad had been specifically scheduled to appeal to an audience of older viewers and therefore did not breach the Advertising Code.
Readers' comments (9)
Anonymous | Wed, 25 Jan 2012 5:24 am
Once again, one rule for one set of people and one set for another. Pathetic.
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Anonymous | Wed, 25 Jan 2012 5:46 am
This is fantastic! You can't buy this kind of PR. Balls out Steelpanther! Kudos to you. Thanks ASA and ImKaan for waving a wand of PR magic over these boys.
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Zac | Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:12 am
Been a Steel Panther fan for a long time, this article reminded me that I really need to go see them live.
Just bought tickets to their March tour, as the person above said, this is exactly the sort of attention Steel Panther want as a band.
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Anonymous | Wed, 25 Jan 2012 6:40 pm
Pffft.. just turn on mtv in the early afternoon to see more vulgarity than that ad. Thanks for the press for the greatest band ever!
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Louise | Wed, 25 Jan 2012 6:56 pm
This is incredibly funny. Steel Panther are so obviously an over-the-top parody glam band, women dressed as scantily as the one on the album cover clearly doesn't feel demeaned, otherwise she wouldn't have undressed, dangled silver balls between her legs and had her photograph taken. You can't demean someone who enjoys taking their clothes off for the camera! ImKaan and ASA are idiots, okay ImKaan help women but they're not helping anyone by crying over a picture on a band's album cover. Get the sticks outta your butts and learn to laugh.
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Anonymous | Wed, 25 Jan 2012 8:19 pm
Like the other guys have said, this exactly the kind of thing that Steel Panther need to spread the message.
I'm also assuming that imkaan and the other members of the public did not go on to listen to any of the tracks or read any of the lyrics because then they would either have gotten the joke and understood the angle and reasoning for the "ballsy" publicity or would have fainted from the shock(er).
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dave | Wed, 25 Jan 2012 9:25 pm
And if you watch the Lady Gaga video very closely at 29 secs ... she spins around with her top unbuttoned and you can see ... oh yes ... some nipple.
But wardrobe malfunctions are all the rage now.
I also think that the difference here is that Lady Gaga is in real life and moving rather than lying there and airbrushed to hell.
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FarleyUK | Thu, 26 Jan 2012 7:47 pm
Personally, I love the fact they didn't seem to notice she's showing 'The Shocker'.....
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Libby Gu | Sat, 28 Jan 2012 8:40 pm
Thank you Steel panther for proving that a woman with balls in sexier than a woman without.
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