Calvin Klein is notorious for scandalous ads; he constantly uses young-looking models for his underwear campaigns and Brooke Shields was only 16 when she spread her legs in a pair of CK jeans and whispered, "nothing comes between me and my Calvins." Well this time, Calvin Klein is getting prude panties in a bunch with a billboard in Soho, NYC that features a girl having, what looks like, an orgy with 3 other dudes. The American Family Association feels it's inappropriate "to put a semi-nude photograph in a major billboard in a high-traffic area where tens of thousands of children see this kind of activity going on." We feel the AFA should pull the stick out of their asses.
Controversial billboards are nothing new, but in the last few years, a whole new crop has popped up, drawing criticism for displaying overt sexual or political messages. Check out some recent billboard scandals...
FETMAN, GARLAND & ASSOCIATES, LTD. (MAY 2007)
CONTROVERSY? Trivializes divorce.
STORY BEHIND IT: Fetman and her all-female law firm believed the billboard "promoted happiness and personal integrity." Other lawyers thought it lowered the integrity of their career.
AMERICAN APPAREL (MAY 2007)
CONTROVERSY? Unlicensed usage of Woody Allen and his film, Annie Hall.
STORY BEHIND IT: Allen didn't want to be associated with a company that's known for provocative photography. What does a Hasidic Jew have anything to do with our soft white tees anyway?
MIKE MEEHAN (JULY 2008)
CONTROVERSY? Exploitation of a national tragedy.
STORY BEHIND IT: The businessman from St. Cloud, Florida thought using the image of the burning World Trade Center would help a Republican presidential candidate gain votes. Democrats said it was "a blatant exploitation of that terrible tragedy," we say Meehan's a douche.
EVA MENDES FOR CALVIN KLEIN (SEPTEMBER 2008)
CONTROVERSY? Too sexy.
STORY BEHIND IT: Looks like Calvin loves to ruffle feathers in Soho. This ad featured a nude Eva Mendes wearing nothing but Obsession perfume. We would never complain about her lack of clothing, because, well you already know how we feel.
GLENN WARD, WND.COM (JULY 2009)
CONTROVERSY? Attempt to make Americans unsure of Obama's citizenship status.
STORY BEHIND IT: A copy of Obama's Hawaiian birth certificate was released by his campaign, but some morons still refuse to believe he is a "natural born" citizen.
AMERICAN APPAREL (SEPTEMBER 2007)
CONTROVERSY? Pornographic, sexualized.
STORY BEHIND IT: Dov Charney got himself into trouble again by using a topless girl bending over in just a pair of tights. The ad was finally removed after it got tagged with graffiti that read, "GEE, I WONDER WHY WOMEN GET RAPED." Ouchy.
