Ad Standards has dismissed complaints that a billboard ad, from Perth OnlyFans creator Savannah - known as West Coast Savage, was promoting pornography to children.
The billboard in Osborne Park, Perth, features an image of a woman in a black bikini swimsuit on her hands and knees in shallow water outdoors. The billboard includes a QR code directing to the w.c.savage OnlyFans account and Savannah's Instagram handle.
Before the ad went up, Savannah sought advice from a professional media body for the ad's graphic design and several modifications were made to ensure the content met the rules of Ad Standards. Despite this, the billboard has received dozens of complaints via social media and news outlets.
The complaint submitted to AdStandards said this particular "provocative" and "distasteful" view of the female body is inappropriate for the area.
"The billboard is very large and present at an intersection on a main route to daycares and schools. It is also along a bus route. This means that children and young people will be exposed to the imagery. It is also situated in a culturally diverse area and I am confident would offend many people of various beliefs and cultural backgrounds due to the near nudity and clear sexual nature.
"It is also inviting young people to look up the advertiser which is a pornographic social media platform. Which could then lead them down a dangerous path of adult content addiction and a warped view of the world. It promotes pornography to children.
"I find it very upsetting and offensive. She may be dressed in a bikini which we can all see when we go to the beach, but that pose is not any normal pose. It is ONLY a pose that you see in sexualised content like pornography. All outdoor advertising to be G-rated."
In response, Savannah defends her ad as she believes the photo is not sexual, "I am the model and it was taken at a public beach in swimwear – I would wear to any beach.
"I am promoting my own legitimate business, which is registered with ASIC and the Australian Taxation office. Therefore I believe I have the right to advertise my services in a responsible manner."
Savannah also explains how the ad does not directly link to pornographic content - "If a member of the public does use the QR code – the person is directed to a web site landing page that requires you to pass a Pay Wall which includes the visitor certifying that they are over 18 and to enter a credit card to subscribe. No adult content is available until these steps are completed."
While Ad Standards found that the advertisement uses sexual appeal, the Panel also found that the ad did not exploit or degrade people and as a result did not breach Section 2.2 (exploitative or degrading) of the Code.
Ad Standards also noted the ad uses partial nudity but the Panel considered that the image was consistent with images used to promote fashion, health or fitness brands and that the actual content of the advertisement was not overtly sexual or explicit.
Therefore, again the Panel determined the advertisement did treat sex, sexuality and nudity with sensitivity to the relevant audience and did not breach Section 2.4 (sex/sexuality/nudity) of the Code.
Similarly, the City of Stirling - the local government authority of the billboard issued a statement that the message does not breach any local laws.
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