A poster promoting US singer Demi Lovato’s new album in the UK was likely to cause serious offence for linking sexuality to the crucifix and crucifixion, the advertising regulator has ruled. The poster, seen in multiple sites across London in August, featured an image of the album cover showing Lovato bound in a bondage-style outfit while lying on a large, cushioned crucifix.
The headline stated ‘DEMI LOVATO’ and ‘HOLY FVCK’ – the name of the album. The poster attracted four complaints that it was likely to cause serious or widespread offence and was irresponsibly placed where children could see it.
Defending the poster, Polydor Records, a division of Universal Music, said it did not believe the poster would cause serious or widespread offence. The label told the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) that it had checked that the poster was acceptable to run at the proposed sites prior to release, and had been assured that it was.
