Fashion Retailer Faces Backlash Over ‘Sexualised’ Advertising

  • ASA bans Boohoo ad for objectifying women
  • Advert featured a model wearing a T-shirt with thong-style bikini bottoms and trainers
  • Boohoo defended the images as reflecting the brand’s diverse customer base
  • ASA considered the images irresponsible and likely to cause serious offence

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned an advertisement from fashion retailer Boohoo, stating that the ad objectified and sexualized women. The ad in question featured a product listing for a T-shirt with two images showing a model wearing the shirt with only thong-style bikini bottoms and trainers. The complainant argued that the images were offensive and irresponsible. Boohoo defended its marketing strategy, claiming it reflects the brand’s diverse customer base and showcases various ways to wear their garments. However, ASA found the images irrelevant to the product and likely to cause serious offence. Boohoo removed the images from their website upon receiving the complaint.

Factuality Level: 8
Factuality Justification: The article provides accurate information about the ASA’s ruling on Boohoo’s advert and includes statements from both the ASA and Boohoo Group. It presents the facts without any significant digressions or misleading information.
Noise Level: 3
Noise Justification: The article provides a clear and concise report on the ruling by the Advertising Standards Watchdog against Boohoo’s ad, with no unnecessary filler content or repetition. It presents both sides of the argument and includes relevant information about the company’s response to the decision. However, it could have provided more context about the specific ad in question and the broader implications of such rulings on advertising standards.
Financial Relevance: No
Financial Markets Impacted: No
Financial Rating Justification: The article discusses a fashion retailer’s advert being banned by the Advertising Standards Watchdog, but it does not directly impact financial markets or companies.
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: Other
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: Minor
Extreme Rating Justification: There is no extreme event in the text, but the article discusses a banned advertisement by the Advertising Standards Watchdog (ASA) due to objectifying and sexualizing women. The impact is considered minor as it mainly affects the brand’s image and marketing strategy.

Reported publicly: www.retailsector.co.uk