Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.
England hasn't exactly been receptive to American Apparel and its borderline porn-y ads. In 2013, Britain banned American Apparel ads on three separate occasions, and now they're back at it again. According to CTV News, the UK will ban an American Apparel ad campaign for miniskirts in which (underage-looking) models are bent over for an "upskirt" shot.
The U.K.'s Advertising Standards Agency has deemed the ads offensive and overtly sexual and they've since been removed from American Apparel's website and Instagram account. "We considered the images were gratuitous and objectified women, and were therefore sexist and likely to cause serious and widespread offense," read the ASA's official statement on the matter. And, since the ads seemed to be depicting schoolgirls, they had the potential to "normalize predatory behavior."
On its website, the ASA made it clear that American Apparel would be watched closely in the future. "We told American Apparel (UK) Ltd to ensure their future advertising was prepared with a sense of responsibility to consumers and to society, and that it contained nothing that was likely to cause serious or widespread offense." Although given the brand's track record, this probably won't be the last AA ad that makes everyone uncomfortable.
· Britain bans 'sexist' American Apparel clothing ads [CTV News]
· Exclusive: American Apparel Responds to Sexy Ad Bans [Racked]
· American Apparel CEO Dov Charney Fired Over 'Misconduct' [Racked]