Ad with woman screaming as man puts her hand in scalding water banned by watchdog
A radio ad for a water system which features a man putting his partner’s hand in scalding water because she doesn’t believe how hot it is has been banned by the Ad Standards Board because of its suggestion of domestic violence.
In the ad, intended to be humorous, the woman screams in pain.
According to the ASB description of the ad (which Mumbrella has been unable to track down to hear at first hand): “A man describes the features of the Gleamous hot water system and toward the end we hear a woman scream as she has her hand placed in the water to test how hot it is. The man then says that the woman now believes him and that she is suing him.
Complaints received by theASB included: “The use of force on anyone and do them harm by scalding their hand to prove the point is abhorrent. Also there is the domestic violence issue, would he demonstrate this way with a male friend?”
Sounds like a shit ad
That ad obviously didn’t run in the ACT. A few months ago our electric hot water system broke down and we had to get a gas one to replace it. The maximum water temp is 50 degrees. When we complained that the water was barely tepid we were told “It’s the law”.
[quote] “Regarding the suggestion ‘would he have done this to male friend?’ – he could have – we just wanted a male/female balance on the ad so there is a distinction of voices- very important for radio where pictures can‟t tell the story.” [unquote]
Biggest load of rubbish I have ever heard from anyone involved in radio production.
Any number of voices male or female can be differentiated by radio technique, identifying only two voices of any gender or age is basic.
Claiming that “pictures can’t tell the story ” in reference to radio, is like saying that dialogue is lacking in Mime. The whole idea sounds dumb to me.
Since I am given my opinion, I must add that I doubt very much that this problem would have arisen, had the casting been reversed.
Hey the ad is mine and have we become that precious we can’t have fun any more? Domestic violence oh please. Actually the original ad I did 30 years ago and it won a Hollywood award. Today it gets banned. What happened to the world?
I am the general manager of the Gleamous group ( a small company formed 18 months ago).
All I have to say is one person complained and a great add was stopped.
But then I suppose minority will always rule in Australia…
That’s why Australia is in the mess it is on today.
@Shaun
What happened to the world?
It got itself too deeply involved with the contemplation of its own navel.