A billboard campaign currently running in South Africa for cell phone provider Vodacom may get banned Monday by the Commission on Gender Equality for being insensitive to women. The billboard, showing a bare breasted woman reaching for her bra, is accompanied by the headline, “Don’t get caught without coverage.”
Addressing complaints and defending the campaign, Vodacom communications head Mthobi Tyamzashe said, “We go out of our way to actively take part in programs that are aimed at helping to preserve their dignity.” He cited Vodacom’s support of rape center victims and the company’s charitable contributions which is, perhaps, the best defense I’ve ever heard for a controversial campaign. What’s next? “Don’t like our ad showing a guy with an erection and the tagline, ‘Our rates are so low, you’ll be very excited?’ Well we give charitable contributions to the Large Penis Support Group.”
