ASA Ruling on American Apparel (UK) Ltd
American Apparel (UK) Ltd
40 Queen Anne Street
London
WA3 3UL
Date:
18 March 2015
Media:
Internet (on own site)
Sector:
Retail
Number of complaints:
1
Agency:
None
Complaint Ref:
A14-285723
Ad
A website (store.americanapparel.co.uk) featured a product page for the "Lips Print Cotton Spandex Sleeveless Thong Bodysuit". A female model was featured in four images wearing the advertised product. One of the images showed her from the back with her buttocks visible.
Issue
The complainant challenged whether the ad was irresponsible and offensive, because it portrayed a sexualised image of a model who the complainant considered looked under 16 years of age.
CAP Code (Edition 12)
Response
American Apparel (UK) Ltd believed the image did not represent an underage model and said the model shown was 20 years old. They said the ad depicted the advertised product from various angles and included an image of the thong component of the bodysuit. They believed the image was consistent with standards contained in similar ads.
Assessment
Upheld
The ASA acknowledged the ad depicted the advertised product from various angles. We considered the model had a youthful appearance and that some consumers were likely to regard her as being younger than 16 years of age. The model was shown looking back at the camera over her shoulder with her buttocks visible. We considered that readers were likely to interpret the model's expression and pose as being sexual in nature. In conjunction with the youthful appearance of the model, we considered the ad could be seen to sexualise a child. We therefore concluded that the ad was irresponsible and was likely to cause serious offence.
The ad breached CAP Code (Edition 12) rules 1.3 (Social responsibility) and 4.1 (Harm and offence).
Action
The ad must not appear again in its current form. We told American Apparel (UK) Ltd to ensure future ads did not include images that inappropriately sexualised young women or were likely to cause serious offence.
