Agent Provocateur’s ‘soft porn’ advert sparks Twitter row with mums calling it ‘damaging’
Shoppers are divided over the brand's latest campaign images
HIGH street shoppers have been voicing their outrage on Twitter this week, over lingerie brand, Agent Provocateur’s saucy Valentine’s Day campaign images.
Customers in Bath have called the ads “everyday sexism” and “soft porn” with local councillors also weighing in and revealing their shock.
The series of images include women seductively posing in very daring lingerie – including one “bending over” in front of a mirror, wearing a lacy bra and what appears to be crotchless knickers; another lying down in a suspender belt and one sat in barely-there “bondage style” underwear.
Taking to Twitter to explain why the images are “so damaging” one woman wrote: “[This] image shows [a] woman lying down with one hand to her head as though in pain.
“Her face and body language depict pain and confusion as though she is under the influence of something and wondering where she is and how she got there.
“There is no consent or pleasure in this image.”
Moving onto the next campaign shot, the woman wrote: “[This] image shows a woman wearing ‘bondage’ style underwear that gives the impression she is tied up inc. around the neck.
“Her face depicts a cold, ‘dead behind the eyes’ look.
“The image glamorises the possibility that this woman has been attacked, subdued, tied up & strangled.”
Commenting on a third shot, she continued: “[This] shows a woman from behind, bending over, sticking her bottom out and wearing open knickers.
“Her arms mimic being forcibly held back.
“Her face depicts pain.
“It glamorises the possibility she is being anally penetrated, forcibly – but with the person excluded from the image.”
And other shoppers were equally unimpressed with the huge advertisement – which is inside Bath’s House of Fraser store.
One woman, who manages a Bath-based running group, tweeted: “I have no words.
“Well, apart from these #objectification #everydaysexism.
“She’s not ‘owning her sexuality and her body’ she’s posing as directed by her employer.
“She could be thinking about how empowered she is or wondering what’s on telly tonight.
“Bombarding girls with images like this increase eating disorders and other forms of self harm.
“Exposing girls and boys to this perpetuates the patriarchal hegemonies which damage us all. Your daughter is negatively impacted by this image.”
Local councillor Victoria Atherstone echoed a similar view about an image in the Cheltenham House of Fraser branch.
“Absolutely shocked and appalled by this @TheMissAP high street store photographic campaign displayed in @houseoffraser #Cheltenham shocking pornographic imagery of women #exploitation NOT SUITABLE for the high street – please take it down NB. @LibDemWomen,” she tweeted.
Others, however, defended the images, with one commenting: “I see a sexy woman who’s feeling confident in gorgeous underwear.
“Maybe she got herself the underwear because she loves how it makes her feel.
“She looks great.
“Feminism is about choice. That’s her choice.
“No-one should be shamed for their bodies or what they wear.”
While another agreed, tweeting: “Hypocrisy, they name is feminism.
“She’s chosen to do that picture so redirect your arrogant, interfering and self-righteous indignation to do some good, i.e. helping the actual oppressed.
“Much more useful than bleating faux-outrage and virtue signalling on social media.”
Another pointed out that a topless David Gandy is on display in white boxers, in the window of the city’s Marks & Spencer store.
“Point me to your outrage over our Dave here,” one man tweeted.
It comes after a dad-of-two, from south Dublin, criticised the department store for exposing children to the “enormous and provocative” images.
Speaking to the , Kenneth Durr said he was with his 12-year-old daughter Hannah and ten-year-old son Alex when he noticed the poster.
He explained: “When my children saw it, my twelve-year-old daughter said, ‘that’s disgusting’ and my ten-year-old son was hiding his face.
“The height of it too, it’s the size of a cinema screen. It’s enormous and provocative.”
This week, a spokesperson for the Advertising Standards Authority said there had only been one official complaint about the images – but they weren’t in the ASA’s remit and that it likely fell to local councils.
Fabulous Online has contacted both Agent Provocateur and House of Fraser for comment.
Earlier this week, we told you about the couple who got married in Pizza Express after pal planned secret wedding.
We also revealed one man’s ‘appalling’ dating ad has been slammed – after he looks for a woman with an ‘innie vagina’, ‘C-cup breasts’ and ‘no cheap tattoos’.
And we showed you ‘romantic’ Valentine’s Day poem shares a chilling message about domestic violence when read backwards.
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