International airline AirAsia has pulled an outdoor campaign running in Brisbane following complaints regarding its slogan's ties to the subject of sex trafficking.
The airline, which offers flights from Australia to Thailand, was forced to pull the ad, which read "get off in Thailand" after grassroots movement Collective Shout began campaigning against the brand.
The group advocates against the objectification of women and the sexualisation of girls in media, advertising and pop culture.
The ads from AirAsia appeared on buses throughout the city and on a billboard outside of Brisbane Airport.
The controversy around the tagline for the campaign was mainly due to the well documented illegal sex trade in Thailand, with many consumers stating the ad promoted "sexual exploitation" and "sex tourism".
"Get off in Thailand" Air Asia advertises sex tourism on Brisbane City Council buses https://t.co/nq9k5lILzZ
— Collective Shout (@CollectiveShout) March 25, 2019
Hey @BrisbaneAirport - when is this dog whistle to sex tourists coming down? #Shame @AirAsia @brisbanecityqld https://t.co/J8oFWRcujb pic.twitter.com/Ybyv5jhqL4
— Coralie Alison (@CoralieAlison) March 25, 2019
Brisbane Airport has since announced on Twitter that it will be removing the billboard "very shortly", pending logistical challenges but emphasised it was a priority.
AirAsia also confirmed it would be removing the ads from the remaining buses, and apologised for any offence caused.
"We take community feedback extremely seriously and sincerely apologise for the concerns raised," an AirAsia spokesperson said.
"AirAsia confirms the campaign had ended and our media partners have had the last of these advertisements removed."
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