The Advertising Standards Authority has upheld a complaint that a mis-spelt slogan on a Wicked Camper van “trivialised” the rape of young boys.
It comes shortly after the ASA upheld another complaint about the Australian-owned company which is infamous for its risqué statements on the back and sides of its campervans.
That complaint led to an accusation that the slogan “This machine fills Fascists” had “crossed the line of, terrorism.”
The latest complaint referred to a statement on a wicked van that said “Ninety % of preists (sic) who try camels prefer boys”.
The complaint told the ASA: “I personally feel this trivalises the rape of young boys. I find it offensive and extremely poor in taste. I don't want to see it in New Zealand. That is not who we are. “
In its decision the ASA’s Complaints Board said it was “likely to cause serious or widespread offence to most people.”
The Board said the ad “offends against generally prevailing community standards and had not been prepared with a due sense of social responsibility to consumers and to society.”
Wicked Campers failed to make any response to the complaint and the Board said the company has continuously failed to respond to numerous complaints and expressed concern over its repeated refusal to engage with and respect the principles of self-regulation.
Last year the Office of Film and Literature Classification ruled that five Wicked campervans were objectionable. One of those had the Disney character Goofy holding a bong to his mouth with the word Stoned! written in large letters across the side. The other slogans referred to sex and drugs.