Look, we’re not Don Draper or anything, but surely there’s a way to portray a product in a sellable way without resorting to choking a woman.
Perhaps the peeps who brainstormed this Johnny Farah ad really couldn’t think of any other option, and decided a male model choking a female model with a leather belt, while her head is covered with a handbag was a money-making combination.
The male model also has a thick brown belt wrapped around his face, evoking memories of Leatherface from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
That’s exactly the sort of image you’d want your products to conjure up, right!?
After receiving some emails condemning the ad, Johnny Farah issued this statement:
“Thank you for getting in touch with me to clear this up. I am aware and have just sent an apology email. The photograph is not an ad but was taken as part of a photography event where the people in the picture were able to choose their own poses. When you see the photo in context with the other pictures next Friday June the 28th, you will see that it is part of an art exhibition and not an advertising campaign. We did not mean to cause any offence and apologize to anyone who was insulted. I have changed the event picture.”
If it’s part of an art exhibition and not an ad campaign, why does it have the Johnny Farah logo at the top with the words “bags, belts and accessories” underneath?
It just doesn’t make sense!
At least we hope the backlash against the ad will prevent it from being in any magazine pages.
Thoughts???
[Image via Johnny Farah]
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