Antonio Federici Gelato just busted out with a print ad campaign where nuns and priests get a little more intimate than the Holy Spirit is comfortable with. Short but sizzling taglines include “submit to temptation” and “kiss temptation” (see variant).
But the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority — which has shafted campaigns for lesser blasphemies — has apparently never indulged in the sensual magic that defines gelato. The watchdog is investigating the ads now, but that’s pretty much a formality: according to the Committee of Advertising Practice, “linking sex or sexualised images with religion may cause particular offence” and “portraying nuns in a sexual manner is inappropriate.”
That settles that. The ads’ll likely be pulled, considering Mother at left is wearing thigh-high stockings, and what kind of Padre has a torso like that? You just want to tear part of it off with your teeth.
Still, Federici’s clearly learned something valuable from United Colors of Benetton: no publicity is bad publicity, particularly where nun-on-priest action is concerned. (The aforementioned parked this bad-boy on a billboard outside the Vatican just a handful of years ago. Needless to say, there was some gnashing and grinding of teeth.)
(V.)
