back to article Lingerie-clad she-devils romp past watchdog

The Advertising Standards Authority has rejected a complaint that an Agent Provocateur video featuring a pack of lingerie-clad she-devils menacing another woman is "disturbing and misogynistic". The vid first appeared on the company's website last November to punt its Soiree 2011-2012 collection. The ASA summarises that it …

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  1. Alex Walsh

    Think you should over tweet a link to the video. it is international womens day after all.

  2. Sorry that handle is already taken. Silver badge
    Thumb Up

    \m/ -_- \m/

    I've always expressed the opinion that there's not enough death metal in advertising.

  3. Anonymous Coward
    Thumb Up

    Porn

    That's what it is, and I'm shocked. Thank you Reg for bringing it to my attention.

    1. GitMeMyShootinIrons

      Re: Porn

      Needs further *vigorous* scrutiny...

      1. This post has been deleted by its author

      2. Suburban Inmate
        Paris Hilton

        @GitMeMyShootinIrons: re: *vigorous* scrutiny

        I'm sure the ASA are already hard on to that!

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Porn

      I'm all in favour of pr0n and scantily clad women, but I firmly believe that they have their time & place. I strongly disagree with the casual nature of Page 3, Nuts, Loaded, etc. and I think they should only be on the top shelf and available to 18+. Those newspapers with some up-skirt shot on the front are a disgrace.

      I actually complained about the latest Figleaves campaign which featured very large posters of very attractive women in lingerie. I don't believe I'm a puritanical prude, but I simply don't believe that that amount of flesh should be on display all over the place. My complaint was rejected (I was one of four complainants) on the grounds that the adverts weren't within 100m of a school. Does this mean that the ASA thinks children only live within 100m of every school?

      If you need to get your rocks off then all manner of filth is but a click away (separate subject). There isn't any need to have it on display everywhere; it simply cheapens and devalues.

      1. Scott 26
        Childcatcher

        Re: Porn

        you're fucking kidding me, right???

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: Porn

          Erm, no, I'm not.

          1. Ken 16 Silver badge

            Re: Porn

            This may come as a shock but there is more pornographic content available on the internet (outside of the Reg site) but I'm sure if you try you can find it.

        2. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          @Scott 26 - Re: Porn

          Half kidding. No I wasn't shocked and yes I was pleased that El Reg helpfully provided me a link. Whether it is porn or not is a matter of taste and sensibilities - it's fairly mild but it's the nearest thing to porn that I've seen for a while. I would not expect to see such an ad before 22:00 on UK television.

          It's interesting to note that the single complaint was that it was 'disturbing and mysoginistic', not that it was overly sexual. Given the nature of the complaint I think the ASA got it right.

          1. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: @Scott 26 - Porn

            I seem to have erroneously presumed that Scott 26 was responding to my post. I really will have to do better.

      2. Greg J Preece

        Re: Porn

        "I don't believe I'm a puritanical prude, but I simply don't believe that that amount of flesh should be on display all over the place."

        I've got some bad news for you...

      3. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Porn

        I agree keep the porn itself on the top shelf, 'you must be this high to read it', but nudity & people in

        lingerie?, why make a big deal about it?

        What's wrong with children seeing someone without clothes or in underwear?

        We are all born naked, so why care if your naked or someone else is?

        Parents take their sons/daughters in with them to opposite sex changing rooms when they are young without any complaints (well there shouldn't be complaints).

        I have two young boys, I wouldn't let them watch porn, but see nudity? no problem with that, it wont scar them, if anything it will make them a more balanced person without unnatural hangups caused by a prudish nation

        1. Graham Bartlett

          Re: Porn

          Nudity ain't the problem. It's nude (or nearly-nude) people doing sex-related stuff which is the problem.

        2. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: Porn

          I agree, but the models are invariably in sexually suggestive poses (the ASA also agreed on that point) & that's not something my wife or I do in front of the children.

          1. xyz Silver badge

            Re: Porn

            >>that's not something my wife or I do in front of the children....

            ...and if you did you'd be up to your g-string in social workers

          2. Manu T

            Re: Porn

            Ehe... what children?

            1) these garments aren't for children (there aren't any in the video either)

            2) lingerie of that kind is supposed to enhance your... eh... 'relationship' with your (consenting adult) partner which I think works very well

            3) the clip is a teaser to delve further into the website and to let ppl know about the products (which according to the feedback it has on a technology-oriented website seems to have worked)

            So stop being a little girl.

            Instead look closer at the garments. That pink gown with the red lace looks gorgeous. They also have a black see-through high waisted pleated palazo pants in their collection which i also find very sexy. And there are other items. Unfortunately these products are for the more fortunate amongst us (3000 euro for the kimono gown alone).

            I'd say to the creator of this clip/site/idea.: mission succeeded! ;-)

          3. Kubla Cant

            Re: Porn

            "sexually suggestive poses ... & that's not something my wife or I do in front of the children"

            Thanks, AC - I now have a mental picture of you and your lady wife adopting "sexually suggestive poses" whenever the kids aren't around. I can do without that.

          4. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: Porn

            "that's not something my wife or I do in front of the children."

            I do hope that doesn't mean you let them go first....

      4. Field Marshal Von Krakenfart

        Re: Porn

        don't believe I'm a puritanical prude, but I simply don't believe that that amount of flesh should be on display all over the place.

        Burqas for everyone then...

  4. Witty username
    Thumb Up

    Clearly fictional?

    This doesn't happen all the time?!

  5. S Larti
    Thumb Up

    But am I really sad?

    When my first thought was "Is that the same house they used in the Baskerville episode of Sherlock?"

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: But am I really sad?

      No. My thought was along similar lines, but "It looks like part of that house that's featured in a whole bunch of TV programmes and films."

      And short hair, stringy nonsense and boots just aren't to my taste. The only thing provoked was my disappointment.

  6. h4rm0ny

    So for all you guys out there...

    If this was a video where a man was at home alone and half a dozen men suddenly appeared in his home (dressed in tight, revealing clothing), chased him down, locked him in a room with them where they simulated gay sex in front of him before finally pinning him to the ground, all leaping on him to kiss him all over before a final scene suggesting he'd been 'converted'.... You'd all like that too, yes?

    1. This post has been deleted by its author

    2. That Awful Puppy
      Coat

      Re: So for all you guys out there...

      Some of us would, yes.

      I tend to prefer my naked flesh to be of the female variety, but you know, whatever rocks your boat. And I'm quite sure there are a few gay commentards who don't enjoy the sexuality portrayed in this video, as well.

      How about you calm down, maybe watch a few ads you enjoy, and try to not be all stoplikingwhatidontlike.jpg?

      Coat, for obvious reasons.

      1. h4rm0ny

        Re: So for all you guys out there...

        Ah yes, the endlessly old "why don't you calm down" comment, suggesting that the person you're talking to (over the Internet) is somehow hysterically wound up. Or alternately, you could just recognize that I'm pointing out that were it a male who was being run down by other males, being forcibly kissed and turned gay, a lot of men would suddenly feel differently about the ad. Nothing wrong with pointing out double-standards, is there? Not all men would dislike the ad that way, but a lot would.

        1. That Awful Puppy
          Trollface

          Re: So for all you guys out there...

          Yes, some men would be offended. And I'd tell them to shut up, because they could take it. Or, if they couldn't, they'd beat me up, which is quite frankly preferrable to reading pseudofeminist whining about non-issues.

        2. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: So for all you guys out there...

          > ... a lot of men would suddenly feel differently about the ad. ... Nothing wrong with pointing out double-standards, is there?

          There is a huge difference between not liking an advert and finding it objectionable.

          By changing the gender of the participants you would be changing the target audience. I, personally, would no longer find it remotely interesting and would not bother watching it. So I would feel different about it. I would not, however, find it objectionable.

          There are no double standards involved and none of the responses to your original post have implied that there are.

    3. Bernard M. Orwell
      Devil

      Re: So for all you guys out there...

      Yeah, why not!

      Sounds like fun!

      :P

    4. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: So for all you guys out there...

      I'd really need to see such a video before reaching any conclusions... maybe a couple of times, just to be sure. I guess you meant "half a dozen GORGEOUS men..." too right?

    5. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: So for all you guys out there...

      No I wouldn't. But all I would do is not bother watching it. I wouldn't make any form of complaint to the ASA or any other body about it. I wouldn't even bother posting a comment saying saying "If this was a video where a woman was at home alone ..."

      1. Manu T

        Re: So for all you guys out there...

        @ Condiment: yeah... especially not on a technology-inspired site like El Reg?

        The first thing I thought was: WTF is that doing here?

    6. frank ly

      Re: So for all you guys out there...

      We'd all like that if we were gay men with a liking for tight revealing clothing on other men.

      I assume that Agent Provocateur know their target market and have designed the advert to appeal to them.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: So for all you guys out there...

        > I assume that Agent Provocateur know their target market and have designed the advert to appeal to them.

        Well at least in part they've got that wrong.

        Some of their stuff is really gorgeous (and some naff). As an occasional customer I saw this ad when it was first released (OK, I'll happily admit to be a total perv too, I'll just be an anonymous one). I loved the nighty the heroin or victim of the ad is wearing, but I can't see how this would promote the product. I showed the ad to the lovely lady I would have bought it for, she too liked the nighty but found the ad distasteful. So there they go one lost sale.

        I can't imagine this was an advert that would have been shown on telly. So anyone who is likely to have seen this advert is watching it deliberately. Personally I find it hard to believe that anyone would go to the AP website if they were likely to be offended by sexual matters. It would be like going to nudest beach and complaining about the lack of clothes being worn. So anyone finding it offensive probably set out with the intention of being offended. Is it distasteful? yes probably, but then so much is, its supposed to be a spoof horror film, so presumably is supposed to be distasteful.

        As to complaining that you see flesh in an underwear advert how else and they going to show you what they are trying to sell you? Or show undy adverts be reduced to the total b*&^%cks that inundate the TV advertising feminine hygiene products. "Our product doesn't look appealing so we though we'd show you some total dross about women looking happy instead"

        1. micheal

          Re: So for all you guys out there...

          see just as much flesh in perfume adverts on telly during daytime hours (think Dior)

          Point as stated, dont go to anne summers website and complain about the buzzy toys they have,

          dont go to underwear sites to complain about showing underwear.

          As for the "target Audience" things, how many perfume ad's sell the sex angle of the fragrance?

          All of them, yet perfume isnt as sexy as underwear

    7. Dr Insanity
      Paris Hilton

      Re: So for all you guys out there...

      Funny you should ask that... most of the women I know wouldn't want to watch a video full of guys, and not because they're all lesbians.

      Most of them are straight and they still all agree that the female figure, especially when scantily clad, is that much more aesthetically pleaseing that the male figure. Something to do with curves being in the right places, and my gender generally being about as shapely as a slab of steak!

      You can proffer as much equality as you like, end of the day women are prettier to look at than men!

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: So for all you guys out there...

        (re Dr Insanity)

        This was confirmed by boffins several years ago. I don't have the reference on hand, but I'm sure El Reg reported it salaciously.

    8. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: So for all you guys out there...

      Didn't Julian Clary make something like that?

      Anyway, I'd see no problem with a gender-flipped version of this. It would need some serious camp but sure.

    9. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: So for all you guys out there...

      Like it? maybe not..

      Laugh at it? maybe...

      Be offended? definitely not...

      BUT then again I would NOT be a target consumer SO my opinion would not matter

    10. Anonymous Coward
      Pint

      Re: So for all you guys out there...

      I wouldn't see it as problematic, which is what you're implying. You're implying that there are double standards here, and there aren't.

    11. Ken Hagan Gold badge

      Re: So for all you guys out there...

      That's David Beckham's next ad, isn't it?

    12. Cameron Colley

      Re: So for all you guys out there...

      If there were a video with men acting this out I'd be pleased. I don't think I'd enjoy watching it myself, not that the original particularly does anything for me, but I'd be pleased that I live in a free society.

    13. Suburban Inmate
      Gimp

      Re: So for all you guys out there...

      Not all of us, but I'm sure certain fellas would, and good for them :)

      No effin idea about women's opinions.

    14. xyz Silver badge

      Re: So for all you guys out there...

      which is why "everyone loves a lesbian" was such a hit on Mongrels....yup there are double standards. linky...www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5zsxfhAh6Q

    15. Dave 150
      Thumb Down

      Re: So for all you guys out there...

      I would stopped the clip or closed the page... complain about it? no

    16. Rab Sssss

      Re: So for all you guys out there...

      don't think I would give much of a shit TBH.

  7. Ambivalous Crowboard
    Trollface

    No, that'd be disgusting.

    But if it was a ton of women ... that'd be coooooool.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: No, that'd be disgusting.

      A ton of women?

      Sounds like the easiest way to do that would be to make it a bbw video. Also, a bbw version of that video would be pretty cool.

  8. Shonko Kid
    Thumb Up

    The spirit of Ken Russell lives on!

    Hollywood should make more horror films along these lines.

  9. Mike Flex
    WTF?

    How to mark International Womens Day

    Apparently sexual assault in your own home by a group of strangers is OK as long as it is carried out by attractive lesbian dominatrices.

    Is the ASA supposed to be regulating advertisers, or be taken out by them so it can chase sticks in the park?

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: How to mark International Womens Day

      Yes

    2. That Awful Puppy
      Trollface

      Re: How to mark International Womens Day

      "Apparently, not distinguishing between fact and fiction is OK, as long as you can complain about it."

      Fix'd that for you.

    3. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      ...carried out by attractive lesbian dominatrices

      They don't have to be that attractive when I think about it.....

    4. Eddie Edwards
      Facepalm

      Re: How to mark International Womens Day

      International Sense of Humour Failure Day too is it?

      1. Mike Flex

        Re: How to mark International Womens Day

        > International Sense of Humour Failure Day too is it?

        If you find scenes of (implied) group rape amusing, well, that's telling us more about yourself than you might have wanted to reveal on a public forum.

      2. Manu T

        Re: How to mark International Womens Day

        Women and Humour? You're kidding, aren't you?

        1. Vladimir Plouzhnikov

          @Mike Flex

          "Apparently sexual assault in your own home by a group of strangers is OK as long as it is carried out by attractive lesbian dominatrices."

          Well, yes.

    5. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: How to mark International Womens Day

      I think that if it was a group of men doing it then it would be cause for a massive complaint..

      but if it was women attacking a man, there would be no complaints from either side of the argument, since men don't care, and women can't imagine a man ever saying no....

  10. Anonymoose Cowherd
    FAIL

    Gaargh!

    Aspect ratio!

  11. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Ooooh wahhh!

    That is all

  12. Just Thinking

    "must not contain anything that is likely to cause serious or widespread offence"

    "The ASA received a single complaint about the video"

    Honestly, how do these people reach these crazy decisions? Its a travesty!

  13. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Offended

    Yes. I had to watch that 3-4 times and I am now also offended.

  14. TeeCee Gold badge
    Boffin

    This is ridiculous!

    How can anyone say that professionally shot footage of a woman being assaulted by scantily-clad lesbian dominatrixes is offensive based on a sample size of one?

    We need more research material before we can draw any valid conclusions here.

    1. Beaver6813
      Facepalm

      Re: This is ridiculous!

      They're working on the basis that they would have had more complaints if more people were offended...

  15. illiad

    puts "lesbian dominatrix" into google images.... :P

    heeeeeeyyyy... a few million samples!!!

  16. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    German Advertising.....

    at it's very Best

    :))))

  17. vonBureck
    Childcatcher

    Have you seen their prices?

    2000 Euros for a set of lingerie... now THAT is exploitation of women. Scandalous and reprehensible, that's what it is. Spoils the yoof, too.

    1. jason 7
      Unhappy

      Re: Have you seen their prices?

      You don't think its actually women that buy that stuff do you?

      Nope.

      I have offered to buy that sort of stuff fro my Gf many many times. Always she says "That stuff just isn't comfortable or practical to wear for any length of time!"

      The fact that she only has to wear it for around 20 minutes maybe is lost on her.

      Most purchased AP underwear never gets worn I bet.

      1. Manu T

        Re: Have you seen their prices?

        Funny, I was under the impression that that chiffon kimono gown and associated slip was very comfortable to wear.

      2. Dazed and Confused

        Re: Have you seen their prices?

        > Most purchased AP underwear never gets worn I bet.

        Have you every been into their shops?

        Last time I was in their original one, it was pretty full of women busily shopping and a few men standing around looking embarrassed.

    2. Manu T

      Re: Have you seen their prices?

      "now THAT is exploitation of women."

      Absolutely not. It's exploitation of MEN! As they usually have to pay for it (literally).

  18. D@v3
    WTF?

    colour me confused

    after watching that several times, i still cant understand why the initial complaint came about. I mean, that advert would never have been shown on TV, surely? It's just far too long.......

    Not to mention all the bare flesh, breasts and nipples, surely just not going to be shown on TV, right?

    So, that leads me to believe that someone has found a (slightly) raunchy video, advertising raunchy underwear, on a website for a manufacturer of raunchy underwear, and has decided to be offended by it. Why where they on said site in the first place?

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: colour me confused

      You think the complainant was an investor?

    2. Manu T

      Re: colour me confused

      I'll correct that for you:

      "So, that leads me to believe that someone sought a (slightly) raunchy video, advertising raunchy underwear, on a website for a manufacturer of raunchy underwear, and has decided to be offended by it...."

      The weird thing is that just a single complaint can have this effect while in many circumstances legit complaints have no response at all. It sure looks like double standard to me.

  19. Natalie Gritpants
    Thumb Down

    I'm offended by the architecture

    Good grief! If the world just had more curtains this sort of thing would not happen.

  20. This post has been deleted by its author

    1. Manu T

      Re: Newsflash...

      You probably mean: "Agent Provocateur's target market is very explicitly WOMEN, who's MEN pay for the lingerie!"

      1. Manu T

        Re: Newsflash...

        Oops forgot one word. It sghould have been:

        You probably mean: "Agent Provocateur's target market is very explicitly WOMEN, who's RICH MEN pay for the lingerie!"

  21. jason 7
    Happy

    I sat and watched every disgusting frame of that film.......

    .....twice!

  22. M7S

    I think you're all missing the IT angle here

    Lingerie is like Government IT.

    The more you pay the less you get

  23. Anonymous Coward
    Megaphone

    I have to wonder...

    Is this aimed at women or men ?

    Because well, taste differs of course; but when looking at that video I think the woman in the night gown is sexier than all those lingerie clad girls. Some of them wear so much clothing that I'd hardly describe it as lingerie...

    Apart from that; I think some people are better of realizing that some companies are hoping that they'll receive complaints. Because that means their product will get mentioned in more media; as such the advertising is working. Think about it; would El Reg have covered this if it wasn't for the complaints?

    otoh... given that its El Reg I suppose they might have ;-)

  24. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Don't watch ads

    Don't tell you all actually sit in your chair watching the adverts. I've got better things to do with my life than watching short bursts of crap video mostly trying to sell something to women. I turn the sound down and carry on reading my book/newspaper until they're over. Then I can get back to what I want the TV for, to be entertained and (alas rarely) educated.

  25. This post has been deleted by its author

  26. Greg J Preece

    Ah, the repressed sexual attitudes. God forbid that someone under the age of 18 ever accept their own horrible, nasty, filthy human body, or understand it. That would just corrupt their tiny, fragile minds. The mere mention of sex within 100 metres of an infants school would cause hundreds of deaths, grey matter leaking from tiny innocent noses.

    Clearly, mollycoddling is the way to go.

    1. jason 7
      Coat

      I dont remember any such outrage over the.......

      ....1984 Kays catalogue that year.

      Oh how the long winter nights flew by.

  27. Sparkypatrick

    That's got more nudity...

    But nothing like as sexy as Kylie on a mechanical bull. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHood00sNJU if you don't believe me.

    1. Olafthemighty
      Pint

      Re: That's got more nudity...

      You, sir, just made my day!

  28. b166er

    Sometimes I'm glas to be my own boss, VSFW!

    I've got the Hammer House of Horror complete collection in my Lovefilm list at the moment too.

  29. ToonArmyBarmy
    Happy

    OK by Me

    Maybe I'm thick skinned, but I don't feel Offended, Afraid or Distressed! In fact I feel quite good about the whole thing! http://www.theregister.co.uk/Design/graphics/icons/comment/happy_32.png

  30. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    I am going to troll a little now

    I like half naked women. And my penis is erect.

  31. Vladimir Plouzhnikov

    A much better quality version

    Is here, btw: http://vimeo.com/31076691

  32. bugalugs

    Review

    Costumes, overdone

    Acting, wooden

    Tits, saggy ( the point )

    Music, great

    Outcome, predictable

    Plot, non-existent

    very slow to load.

  33. zanto
    Thumb Up

    ahhh

    nothing like a bit of naughty advertising to breathe a little life into the ageing equipment.

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