Thursday, March 23, 2006
AD RAGE BUILDS
British TV regulators were upset about the use of bloody in new Australian tourism promotions. Canadians were upset about hell. And now the American Family Association is upset about both:
The American Family Association, which has more than two million members and leads campaigns against abortion and gay rights, was upset with the bikini-clad model Lara Bingle’s use of “bloody” and “hell” in the ad’s tagline.
AFA members are expected to bombard Tourism Australia with thousands of emails and phone calls in coming weeks to vent their feelings.
Members are also expected to boycott Australia as a holiday destination.
A boycott from fully 0.6% of the US population, perhaps seventeen of whom have passports. Scary.
“I just feel pretty sure the typical American family who is watching TV with their children and they’re exposed to this ad are going to be upset,” AFA director of special projects, Randy Sharp, said.
“I don’t want my children to hear that phrase.”
Well, best keep them away from The Simpsons, Randy Flanders. “Bloody hell” has been heard at least twice on the rarely-viewed animated comedy, from Rupert Murdoch and Bono; as well, Monty Burns once demanded that a character “get to the bloody point”. Our only hope is that this Simpsons show catches on, possibly leading to a wider awareness of exotic swearing methods. With luck, certain episodes may even be repeated from time to time.