Advertising Standards Authority Bans Viva!’s ‘Dairy is Scary’ Ad, Sparking Controversy Over Censorship
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned a cinema advert produced by the UK-based charity Viva!, following a small number of complaints, despite the approval of both the ASA’s internal investigation team and the Cinema Advertising Association (CAA). Dispute over “irresponsible” content The advertisement, titled Dairy is Scary, was deemed by the ASA to be “irresponsible” and likely to cause “unjustified distress” and “serious and widespread offence.” However, the ASA’s internal team had initially concluded that there was no breach of regulations and that the ad was suitable for a 15+ audience. The CAA, which oversees cinema advertising in the UK, had also cleared the advert for screening before films rated for viewers aged 15 and over, confirming its appropriateness for the target demographic. Despite …