Channel 4’s Ad Campaign For The Undateables Cleared By ASA
I’m not at all surprised that the complaints were received.
Channel 4‘s ad campaign for controversial show The Undateables has been cleared by the advertising watchdog, despite more than 20 complaints that it is offensive toward disabled people and encourages sterotyping and bullying.
The ad campaign for the show, which has been a hit for Channel 4 attracting almost 3 million viewers, featured photographs of people from the programme with the advertising strapline “Love is blind, disfigured, autistic … “.
The Advertising Standards Authority received 21 complaints that the ads were offensive towards disabled people, implying that they were “inevitably dateless and incapable of having a personal relationship”.
Some complainants said that they felt that the ads were irresponsible, harmful and offensive because they could encourage bullying, reinforced prejudices and stereotypes and generalised disability.
The ASA weighed up the complaints but decided not to launch a formal investigation to see if the ad campaign potentially broke the UK advertising code.
“We acknowledged that the ads would not be to everyone’s taste but considered they reflected the tone and content of the programme they promoted and were not likely to cause serious or widespread offence for the reasons suggested,” said a spokesman for the ASA. “After careful consideration, ASA Council decided we will not be taking any further action.”
In February the ASA cleared Channel 4’s ad campaign for Big Fat Gypsy Weddings, despite more than 300 complaints from members of the public and the Traveller community that it was offensive and racist.
Same Difference 