A sex toy ad that references Prince Harry’s memoir has been banned from appearing where children can see it.
Lovehoney promo showcased at Clapham Junction in the South West London In February.
It features an image of the ball plug and large text that reads “Silence is golden, Harry” – and direct people to purchase other similar products on their website.
title is right Release of the Duke of Sussex’s memoir Spareincluding a series on his royal family – include Revelations about his sex life.
Lovehoney said the ad should be “humorous”, noting that “not all family stories need to be shared with the public”.
But it was referred to the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) because it was offensive and inappropriate for display where children were likely to see it – a busy train station in the capital.
The company denied both claims, saying “a ball plug was not explicitly sexually suggestive and its use was not easily identifiable without further knowledge”.
“Children would not recognize it as a sex toy, and there was nothing in the ad to change that,” it argued.
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“Potentially offensive but not offensive”
The ASA rejected complaints that the video was offensive, saying that while suggesting that using a sex toy to stop someone from speaking might be considered “offensive”, it was “unlikely to cause serious or widespread offense”.
But the regulator backed the complaints over the placement of the ads.
Advertisement banned for sex toy retailer Lovehoney
It states that while younger children “may not know” the true nature of the ball plug, older children “may have a better idea of what the object is for”.
Therefore, the promotional video is considered “irresponsible targeting”.
“The advertisement cannot be reproduced as a complaint,” the ASA ruled.