Virgin Mobile US takes down Christmas advert suggesting sexual assault [View all]

[n2doc]

Virgin Mobile US has pulled an advert that seemingly made light of rape after Sir Richard Branson slammed the online commercial as "ill-judged" and "a dreadful mistake".

The offending ad depicted a man holding a gift while shielding the eyes of a woman, an accompanying caption asks: "The gift of Christmas surprise. Necklace? Or chloroform?"

Reference to the anaesthetic, and the implication of it being used to render attack victims unconscious, were immediately attacked on Twitter, with some posters alerting Branson to the ad.

"This advert is a disgrace. The suggestion of violence is not funny and perpetuates misogyny," wrote Carolyn Leckie.


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http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/dec/09/virgin-mobile-us-holiday-ad?CMP=twt_fd