The ad, which featured religious gods and prophets, including Hindu god Ganesha sharing a BBQ lamb meal, received more than 200 complaints, including one from the High Commission of India in Australia, which claimed the ad was “offensive" and "hurting religious sentiments".
The ASB originally cleared the ad declaring it had not breached the Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA) Code of Ethics in Advertising.
Section 2.1 of the code states: ‘Advertising or Marketing Communications shall not portray people or depict material in a way which discriminates against or vilifies a person or section of the community on account of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, age, sexual preference, religion, disability, mental illness or political belief.’
An independent review by the ASB found the original ruling was an “error” and cited "substantial flaws" with the initial decision, which found the ad was “lighthearted and humorous” and did not breach the advertising standards code.
http://www.thedrum.com/news/2017/11/23/australias-ad-watchdog-reverses-decision-and-bans-controversial-mla-lamb-advertThe High Commission of India in Canberra has made a "demarche" to three Australian government departments over the advert, which has been labelled "offensive" and religiously insensitive.
The commercial portrays the Hindu god Ganesha sharing a meal of lamb with figures from several other religions.
Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), the meat industry lobby group behind the ad, said that the new campaign shows that lamb is a meat that can be enjoyed by all, regardless of "beliefs, background or persuasion." However, it has caused anger among Australia's Hindu community because Ganesha is never depicted eating meat.
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"In a video advertisement released by Meat and Livestock Australia recently, Lord Ganesha along with other religious figures is found to be 'toasting lamb', which the Indian community consider to be offensive and hurting their religious sentiments," the High Commission of India said in a press announcement.
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/11/india-lodges-complaint-over-offensive-australian-lamb-advert.htmlNot sure I can see it getting shown on any TV now, really.
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