Skidded to a halt

A BMW ad on TV raised concerns about unsafe driving. The ad features various scenes of the luxury vehicles being driven on roads, including one where a car is skidding at the end of a cement pier, and another where a car becomes airborne.

The Community Panel found that there was no clear distinction between the realistic driving scenes and the fantastical ones, which could encourage unsafe driving.

Breach – FCAI Motor Vehicle Advertising Code 

Bah Humbug!

Myer’s holiday season ad raised concerns about promoting antisocial and destructive behaviour. Of particular concern was the “Humbug” character stomping on Christmas baubles with bare feet. 

The Community Panel considered that the ad features an animated pink creature and it’s behaviour is exaggerated and unlikely to be seen as realistic. As a result they found that the ad did not promote unsafe behaviour. 

No breach – AANA Code of Ethics

Shopping around

This TV ad for Youi that features a family comparing how Aunty Kate “shops around to find the best boyfriend” to shopping around for car insurance, raised concerns about discrimination towards both women and men.  

The Community Panel found that the content in the ad was presented as the humorous way children can make connections between seemingly unrelated concepts, and was not comparing the aunty’s boyfriends, or men in general, to objects. There was also no suggestion that Aunty Kate should be thought as less of for “shopping around”.  

No breach – AANA Code of Ethics

Common gesture

An ad for the video game “Call of Duty - Black Ops 6” that features celebrity Sophie Monk raised concerns about inappropriate hand gestures.  

The Community Panel noted that the gestures were intended as light-hearted humour, aligning with common colloquial usage in Australia, and were not strong or obscene. 

No breach – AANA Code of Ethics

Most complained about ads of 2024

We handled over 4,000 complaints this year, covering various categories from fried chicken to insurance. We’ve revealed the top ten ads that prompted the greatest number of individual complaints.