Regulators Ban Demi Lovato Poster in U.K

Regulators Ban Demi Lovato Poster in U.K: The U.K. banned posters for Demi Lovato’s most recent album after determining that the image “was likely to cause substantial offense to Christians.” The pop singer’s eighth studio album, whose name is a play on the phrase “Holy in which the letter “v” is substituted for the letter “u,” was released in August to favorable reviews.

Both in the U.S. and the U.K., it debuted in the top ten album charts. According to the U.K.’s Advertising Standards Authority, a poster for Lovato’s pop-punk album depicted the 30-year-old singer-songwriter “bound in a bondage-style attire and resting on a huge, cushioned crucifix” (ASA).

At the time, the promotional material was visible on six sites in London, but it was removed after just four days due to ASA complaints. The advertising watchdog reported that the advertisement had received four complaints in all. The question was finally decided by ASA on Wednesday. It concluded the advertisement was indeed likely to offend.

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We believed at the advertisement’s allusion to the phrase “holy would be obvious to the majority of readers and that it “appeared in an untargeted media and public venue where minors were also likely to view it” Regulators also objected to the singer’s clothing choice in the poster.

The court’s decision stated, “We considered that the image of Ms. Lovato wrapped up in a bondage-style attire while lying on a mattress shaped like a crucifix, in a position with her legs bound to one side was reminiscent of Christ on the cross.”

Furthermore, the album’s title “in that context was likely to be seen as tying sexuality to the sacred symbol of the crucifix and the crucifixion [hence the poster] was likely to cause great harm to Christians,” according to the publisher.

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Regulators ruled that the advertisement “shall not appear again in the manner complained of unless it was appropriately targeted.” Additionally, ASA advised Universal Music Operations “to ensure their commercials in the future would not result in serious or widespread offense.”