The Super Bowl is as famous for commercials as it is for football — but this year, some ads have already been banned for being too sexy for the game.
Super Bowl Ads 2009: Sexy Spots Not Allowed
The most recent banned Super Bowl ad comes from PETA , the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. It might not be what you’d expect, though. Here’s the too-hot-for-TV spot, entitled “Veggie Love.”
The Super Bowl commercial, NBC said, “depicts a level of sexuality exceeding [its] standards.” The list of problematic elements, posted in its entirety here (PDF), is a bit funny to read. Some of the shots NBC wanted removed, in the words of the network advertising standards executive:
• licking pumpkin
• touching her breast with her hand while eating broccoli
• pumpkin from behind between legs
• rubbing pelvic region with pumpkin
• screwing herself with broccoli (fuzzy)
• asparagus on her lap appearing as if it is ready to be inserted into vagina
• licking eggplant
• rubbing asparagus on breast
Some menu, eh?
Super Bowl Commercials 2009: No Affairs
The second spot banned from the game this year is by AshleyMadison.com , a dating site geared toward married people who want to have affairs. (Yes, that is seriously the site’s entire focus.)
The commercial in question featured a sexy gal with the slogan: “WHO Are You Doing After the Game?”
(Click to enlarge)
Seemingly, it was a bit too spicy for the Super Bowl.
Super Bowl Banned Ads: GoDaddy’s Commercials
Even a company as innocuous as a domain registrar can run into trouble when it comes to Super Bowl ads. GoDaddy has had a handful of Super Bowl commercials banned over the years. Here are three GoDaddy spots that never saw airtime.
Think any of the above ads deserved to be stricken from the Super Bowl? Or are the standards enforcers getting overzealous in their efforts? Voice your thoughts below.