Sex Toy Ad That Pokes Fun at Prince Harry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had this "Spare" story for some time but only managed to get the image of the ad today. Hence, the post today. 

Sex toy retailer Lovehoney put up an ad that had referenced the Duke of Sussex’s tell-all memoir "Spare".

The digital billboard had large text stating: “Silence is golden, Harry”. And in smaller text, it read: “Spare ball gags available at https://lovehoney.co.uk”. 

 

It was visible at London’s Clapham Junction train station on February 08. However, it was banned for appearing where children could see it. 

 

Lovehoney had disputed UK's Advertising Standards Authority's decision – and the former maintained it was a response to Harry’s memoir, which elaborated on “a number of indiscreet revelations, some of which had a sexual reference”. 

 

They insisted that the ad was meant to be humorous and that not all family stories needed to be shared with the public. 

 

Lovehoney argued that the ad was appropriate for untargeted display because children would not recognize the ball gag as a sex toy, particularly as it has no explicitly sexual references. 

 

Still, the ASA understood a ball gag was a sex toy placed in a partner’s mouth to prevent speech. 

 

The advertising authority said that the ad was unlikely to cause widespread or serious offence, but some people would find it “distasteful”. 

 

“We therefore considered that the ad was inappropriate for outdoor display where it could be seen by children. We concluded that the ad had been irresponsibly targeted”.