After being published last month in three Italian magazines, the country's advertising watchdog, the Institute for Advertising Self-Discipline (IAP) has banned Tom Ford Eyewear ads. This specific image, showing a sunglasses-wearing woman with a man's finger in her mouth was ruled "markedly vulgar" because the "scene evokes an offending and abusive act against women, which degrades the dignity of the person." On the Tom Ford website, the entire collection of Spring 2008 ads are acknowledged to be sexually explicit. Do you find this image to be offensive?


















LK Bennett
GUESS
Fabi
Are you kidding me at this point? How is this ad offensive??
1This is nowhere near offensive. Have they seen the other ads for this season? this is tame!
2For real, simplyfab. People get way to riled up over nothing these days. It's getting ridiculous.
3I personally think this ad is really tacky, I do not like Tom Ford and his ads at all, they make me want to throw up.
4This doesn't bother me.
5people are too sensitive, I don't see that as offensive at all
6How the heck is that ad offensive or abusive in any way toward women? So stupid. I like the ad, it's sexy.
7"scene evokes an offending and abusive act against women" ?? Seriously? I'm assuming they are thinking the finger is meant to stand for something else, in which case, are you telling me no guy at the ad agency has ever received on? I don't see how it's an "abusive" act.
8Abusive?!
I think women may start using that as an excuse not to do it!
9I'm not sure why this ad would be banned, I don't view it as abusive.
10Now if she were biting down really hard THAT could convey abuse.
11Is it tacky? Yes. All Tom Ford's ads are tacky. But I don't find it offensive and it's certainly not abusive. These people need to lighten up.
12Lol, you guys are so funny. I never even thought of it that way.
13nope. not offensive.
14Really? In Europe....that's odd because I have seen some of there television commericals and they are way more suggestive than a mans finder in a women's mouth! I don't even know how the word abusive is even relevant .....it's kind of sad too I thought Italy was more open minded!
15Er, it's not offensive to me. Ugly picture, but more so because of the sunglasses and distinctly '80s vibe than the finger.
Perhaps the man is using his middle finger as a subtle way of giving the finger to would-be censors?
16he's trying to give her the fish hook and she's biting his finger
it's sweet - she's taking matters into her own hands and refusing to be abused by him...it's empowering!
and kind gross, cuz i can't stop thinking about how gross that finger might taste...ew
17this one is not offensive at alll.
i think this one is hott.
have u seen the rest of the collection pictures???
even on his website it says "sexually explicit pictures-click here"
lol
they are "sexually explicit" but i like em. aint nothin wrong with sum crazy pictures sometimes
18i find it kinda gross- cause i keep thinking ew germs lol i can see the suggestive nature of it i suppose as well. but i'm not offended and i don't find it abusive- that's taking it a bit too far
19For Tom Ford that is really tame. I wouldn't have thought this was sexual at all.
20Am I the only one who agrees with the IAP ?
21well, I had to look up "fish hook" on Urban Dictionary (I guess I'm a little naive). I do see the IAP's point now.
22Tacky and vulgar. Glad someone had some common sense, even if they are as far as Italy.
23I didn't know what it was until you gave me the idea to look it up there, javsmav. Ew.
24I'm in the minority -- I find this ad vulgar.
Generally, I prefer ads that are more nuanced and provocative.
25well, if his finger is supposed to be phallic, all blow jobs are offensive and abusive? I don't think so!!
26Italian Jem, I think the ad's actually referring to something called a "fish hook." It took me a while to catch on to that.
27I don't like the photo, but it's seriously NOT offensive or whatever! Wth?
28
@ 'fish hook'. I had to look that on up too in Urban Dictionary.
29stupid and vulgar. and not original at all.
30Lame.
31I think its empowering to women b/c she's biting him! More power to her!
32Hmm, I am not personally offended by it, but I won't discount the feelings of others by saying that it's not offensive. Remember (American teamsugar members) - this was banned in Italy, where the social/pop culture most likely has some variations from what we are used to.
33Ok, now that I know what a fish hook is, I can see their point.
Urban Dictionary
34i think this one is fine, but some of the others might be offensive ...
x.
jessica
[zoeandjessicasick.blogspot.com]
35i think this one is fine, but some of the others might be offensive ...
x.
jessica
[zoeandjessicasick.blogspot.com]
36i think it can be seen either way. it can be seen as empowering for women because she is biting him, but.. since it's his middle finger, it's basically like he's "f**king" her mouth.. sorry for the rude language, but it's true. it's like he's doing that and she likes it. it can be seen both ways
37this is hot.
38ah whatever. I think that photo looks ridiculous anyways.
39Banned in Italy? They're less conservative than us in America. I agree that his ads are vulgar, especially the men's perfume ad where the bottle is in between the women's thighs. I love Tom Ford (the person) and his sunglasses! I love the perfumes as well. I love Oud Wood, which is an Arabian blend of musks and oils.
40I saw this a month ago and just knew it would cause some trouble.
41OH PLEASE !
42I just think this looks gross.
43If you people don't know what fish hooking is - look it up before commenting! Definitely abusive. Kudos to the Italians for banning this.
44I don't find this "offensive", but it's not attractive to me in any way.
45tom ford knows what he's doing...getting press by making controversial ads
46it looks more like she's abusing him than the other way around!
47maybe its because its the middle finger? either way this looks ugly to me:S it would have been better without some random hand?
48haha okay so after seeing this i decided to google and find more of his ads to see why yall are like.. this is tame for him. and wow. its funny that they banned this because.. the others are like, borderline porn probably. i definitly dont see this as offensive especially compared to the others.. but i still think this one is ugly:)
49Offensive? Maybe. Deserving of censorship? No.
50Post New Comment
Please share your opinion with our community, but make sure it is on topic and follows our Community Rules. We moderate comments and prohibit personal attacks, threats, spam, lewd images, or the promotion of your personal website.