UK: 10 most complained about ads #1 kicking kittens #2 aborting babies....

The Guardian (UK ) report the most complained about ads for 2010 according to the Advertising Standards Authority. Topping the list is an ad that pro ports to show a blind soccer player accidentally kicking a cat into a tree.  Of course you do not actually see that but the complaints are  that it is demeaning to blind people and of course animal cruelty. 

Placing second is an ad called Are you late? by Marie Stopes which is the Planned Parenthood of the UK.  At  first I thought... what kicking kittens is worse than killing babies? It would seem so but looking at the details, it appears that the Marie Stopes ad had more complaints but the ASA decided not to count signatures on petitions and postcards. Interestingly enough, they felt that the complaints on those two ads where not upheld.  One the kicking kittens one...

"We felt the ad was surreal and light-hearted in tone and was unlikely to encourage or condone cruelty to animals or cause serious or widespread offense."

And on the Marie Stopes ad.....

"We felt it was clear that the advertisers were promoting their post-conception advice service and was neither advocating one course of action over another..."

Sure.....the Planned Parenthood of UK is not advocating one choice over the others......do we believe that? And how about the wording.....post conception advice service. Now there is a new one!!