Singer Demi Lovatos album poster faces ban for causing offense to Christians

An album poster featuring Demi Lovato posing on a cushioned crucifix while wearing a bondage-style outfit has been banned in the UK for causing offense to Christians.

The poster, displayed in multiple sites across London in August, had the headline ‘DEMI LOVATO’ with ‘HOLY FVCK’ – the name of the 30-year-old star’s album written underneath it.

The poster received four complaints, stating that it was likely to cause serious or widespread offense and was irresponsibly placed where children could see it.

The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has ruled that the advert must not reappear.

Polydor Records, a division of Universal Music, defended the poster, stating that they did not believe it would cause serious or widespread offense. They had checked the acceptability of the poster at the proposed sites prior to its release and were assured that it was appropriate.

According to Polydor, the posters only appeared at specific sites in London for a four-day period and were removed on August 23.

The ASA concluded that the language used in the ad was likely to cause offense and had been irresponsibly targeted, violating the CAP Code (UK Code of Non-broadcast Advertising, Sales Promotion and Direct Marketing) that states ads must not contain anything likely to cause serious or widespread offense and must be prepared with a sense of responsibility.

They stated, “Because we considered the ad was likely to be seen as referring to a swear word that many would find offensive and had appeared in an untargeted medium and public place where children were also likely to see it, we considered that the ad was likely to result in serious and widespread offense and had been targeted irresponsibly.”

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