The advertising watchdog has banned a radio ad which featured the F-word bleeped out, after saying it was broadcast in an “inappropriate timeslot” on the Nova Network's Brisbane station.
The ad was a promotion of an upcoming gig for musicians Tom Piper and Daniel Farley and featured the duo's song “LGFU”, an acronym of the song's chorus “let's get fucked up.”
While the ad featured a bleep over the actual f-word in the song's chorus, members of the public complained to the Advertising Standards Bureau (ASB) that part of the chorus – “let’s get fa, fa, faaaaa” – inferred that the f-word was being said in full.
“[The ad features] inappropriate language in an inappropriate timeslot,” one complainant wrote.
Nova said in a response to the complaints: “Whilst we acknowledge that this final repetition of the song does sound very similar to a swear word and upon a brief listening could be interpreted as a known swear word, the advertisement does not actually contain any swear words (or any other obscene terms).”
Nova added it “does not consider itself strictly bound by the Code” but “endeavours” to follow it as part of broadcasting practice.
Despite the bleep, the ASB upheld the complaints, considering the ad to be in breach of the code for use of inappropriate language, as “the F word is ... heavily alluded to.”
Nova agreed to cease broadcast of the ad.
Follow @AdNews on Twitter for breaking stories and campaigns throughout the day.
Have something to say? Send us your comments using the form below or contact the writer at alexandraroach@yaffa.com.au
Have something to say on this? Share your views in the comments section below. Or if you have a news story or tip-off, drop us a line at adnews@yaffa.com.au
Sign up to the AdNews newsletter, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for breaking stories and campaigns throughout the day.