"It is highly inappropriate, offensive and insensitive."
A Melbourne-based fashion retailer has been racked over the knuckles for a ‘flash sale’ campaign, which featured a cartoon character ‘flashing’ a woman.
The Advertising Standards Bureau ruled the advertisement by independent boutique Kinki Gerlinki breached regulations on community standards.
The ad for a three day online flash sale featured cartoon character ‘The Flash’ holding open his raincoat to flash a woman who has her hands covering her face, with text that read: "Flash Sale! 25% off all dresses! 3 days only! kinkigerlinki.com.au".
The ad was sent only to Kinki Gerlinki’s newsletter subscribers and advertised to its Facebook fans.
Despite the limited audience, the board ruled against the retailer.
“The Board considered that the depiction and suggestion of condoning “flashing” is a depiction of material that is contrary to prevailing community standards on health and safety," the judgement read.
One complaint against the advertisement believed it trivialised the sexual offence of indecent exposure in order to promote the sale of women’s clothing.
“Furthermore it is highly inappropriate, offensive and insensitive to women who may have had an experience of this type of behaviour,” the complainant stated.