M Tussaud’s slams Tube ads cover-up

Madame Tussaud’s has slammed TDI Advertising, formerly London Transport Advertising, for covering up posters for the leisure attraction’s latest advertising campaign on the London Underground.

TDI covered up the posters with another execution in the series after receiving complaints about the creative work, designed by agency J Walter Thompson.

The posters show death masks taken by Madame Tussaud herself during the French Revolution with the strapline “Heads of State… Heads of Parliament and Er… Heads.”

Complaints were made be-cause of concern that the posters were unsuitable for children.

Tussaud’s marketing manager Nancy Mitchell says: “We are aggrieved on two counts. First, (TDI) covered up the posters without consultation. Second, it approved the ads, but pasted them over on the basis of just three complaints.”

She says JWT commissioned qualitative research of the poster and found it favourably received by different age groups and families in research groups.

JWT and MGM, Tussaud’s media buying agency, are talking to the Advertising Standards Authority and TDI, and the situation will be reviewed following judgment by the ASA.