PointsBet ad starring Shaquille O’Neal is named the ‘most offensive’ of 2022 because it ‘discriminates against Australians’ – as UberEats campaign with the Irwins and Paris Hilton draws complaints for ‘animal violence’
An advert for online gambling company PointsBet received the most complaints from the public out of any TV commercial that aired in 2022.
The ad, starring NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal and comedy duo the Inspired Unemployed, angered viewers because it seemingly made fun of Australians.
Richard Bean, the executive director of industry watchdog Ad Standards, said the complaints focused on the use of exaggerated Aussie accents and local slang.
An advert for online gambling company PointsBet starring NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal received the most complaints from the public out of any TV commercial that aired in 2022
‘This particular ad elicited a strong response from some viewers who were concerned it was offensive and insulting to Australians, particularly young men,’ Bean told The Herald Sun.
In the advert, O’Neal asks comedians Jack Steele and Matt Ford questions about horse racing and AFL, with their responses sending up both Aussies and Americans.
The Ad Standards Community Panel found the PointsBet commercial was not discriminatory and not in breach of advertising industry codes.
Responding to the enquiry, PointsBet said it ‘unquestionably believes the advertisement is wholly compliant with all applicable codes and legislative or regulatory regimes’.
The Inspired Unemployed (above) co-star in the ad which makes fun of Australian mannerisms and American humour. On investigating the complaints, the Ad Standards Community Panel found that the ad was not discriminatory, and not in breach of advertising industry codes
Bean said the panel found the ad featured ‘self-deprecating humour’ that most Australians would see as celebrating their culture, not ridiculing it.
Ad Standards investigated more than 250 commercials in the past year and found 50 were in breach of industry standards.
Most viewers were concerned about discrimination, violence and sexual content in advertising campaigns, Bean revealed.
An advert for loan provider Nimble received the second highest number of complaints this year.
The Uber Eats advert starring Paris Hilton and the Irwin family at Australia Zoo received the third most complaints in 2022
Ad Standards agreed the ad, which featured a character with his mouth permanently open, was discriminatory after viewers complained it made fun of disabled people.
The Uber Eats advert starring Paris Hilton and the Irwin family at Australia Zoo received the third most complaints in 2022.
Some viewers found the humorous TV spot ‘violent’ because it implied a snake had eaten Hilton’s pet chihuahua.
Some viewers found the humorous TV spot ‘violent’ because it implied a snake had eaten Hilton’s pet chihuahua
Melbourne brothel Gotham City House of Sin also came under fire from the public.
Its billboard advert, featuring a woman in black lingerie, was deemed exploitative and degrading, and ended the year as the fourth most complained about ad.
A TV commercial for horror film The Black Phone, starring Ethan Hawke, was deemed too violent and was the fifth most complained about ad of the year.
An advert for loan provider Nimble received the second highest number of complaints this year. Ad Standards agreed the ad, which featured a character with his mouth permanently open, was discriminatory after viewers complained it made fun of disabled people
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