‘Sexist and derogatory’ Pussy drink ad banned

An ad for the Pussy stimulant drink been banned for making sexist and derogatory references to women after a campaign attracted 156 complaints.

Pussy

The Advertising Standards Authority ruled the ad stating “The drink’s pure, it’s your mind that’s the problem” was offensive because it consciously referred to the slang meaning of the word pussy.

Complaints that the ad might be seen by children were also upheld because older children would infer the dual meaning referenced in the ad was sexually explicit or offensive.

In its defence, Pussy Drinks said it considered it “ironic” people had complained as the content of the ad was “pure” and viewers were “twisting the meaning of an innocent word”.

It quoted the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) definition of the word pussy as beng a cat or kitten, as the intended meaning of the word in its advertising, adding cats were symbolic of all that is “cool, beautiful, feline and natural, with attitude”.

The brand claims the inspiration of the design was a white pussycat owned by a family member.

Pussy also said it would defend its right to advertise its product until the OED changed its definition.

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