Pot Noodle's 'hurt me you slag' not suitable for any medium, says watchdog

by Jennifer Whitehead,, Brand Republic 28-Aug-02, 10:00

LONDON - Pot Noodle's 'slag of all snacks' advertising has run into more trouble after 286 people complained about a poster for the brand that proclaimed: 'Hurt me you slag'.

The advertisement, for Unilever Bestfood's unlikely named Bombay Bad Boy flavour, showed a container of the noodles with the "hurt me you slag" strapline in red neon lights.

Complaints from the public said the ad, created by HHCL & Partners, was offensive and that it was irresponsible because it condoned personal violence.

The Advertising Standards Association upheld both complaints against the ad, despite Unilever's argument that it was intending to poke fun at the product.

Pot Noodle's television advertising campaign, featuring scenes of men in red light areas searching for "the slag of all snacks", was banned from using that strapline by the Independent Television Commission. It received more than 300 complaints from viewers.

The television ads have now been rebranded with the words "sounds dirty and it is", while the Bombay Bad Boy posters have been withdrawn.

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