Censors Strike Again: No Complaints But Advert Featuring Adult Model Banned For ‘Sexualising Children’

A magazine advertisement for fashion house Prada has fallen foul of British censors who deemed it “irresponsible and likely to cause serious offence”. The ruling deemed the advert gave the impression the model posing appeared to be under the age of 16.

The ruling was made despite the fact model and actress in question, 22-year-old Mia Goth, had already appeared in Lars Von Trier’s BBFC-approved, yet extremely sexually explicit film Nymphomaniac. In their decision, the British Advertising Standards Agency, who have also recently banned the popular Protein World “are you beach body ready?” adverts, said: “The model had a youthful appearance, was wearing very minimal make-up and clothes that appeared to be slightly too large.

“We considered those elements contributed to the impression that she was younger than 16 years of age. She was posed reclining on a bed, looking up directly to the camera through a partially opened door, which gave her an air of vulnerability and the image a voyeuristic feel”.

“…the ad was irresponsible and was likely to cause serious offence”.

Prada also owns the Miu Miu brand for whom Goth was modelling in the advert. The company insisted the advert was not sexual and that the model was wearing clothes with a high neckline and unprovocative, natural make-up. The Guardian reports the response of Vogue magazine, who said they had received no complaints from readers about the advert, and their “sophisticated”, educated readership would not be offended by the spread.