Crown Paints could be probed by advertising watchdog over 'sexist' ad

2022-08-16

Crown Paints could be probed by advertising watchdog for lighthearted ‘Hannah and Dave’ advert after dozens of viewers complained it was ‘sexist’ and ‘offensive’ to ‘suggest a woman had conned a man into having a baby’

The Advertising Standards Agency is ‘reviewing’ complaints over the jingle
Crown Paints has stood firm amid the backlash and has vowed to keep the ad
The TV commercial tells the story of a couple who are expecting a baby together
It includes ‘sexist’ suggestion: ‘Dave’s just hoping that the child’s his’

Crown Paints could be investigated by the advertising watchdog after dozens of viewers complained that it was ‘sexist’ and ‘offensive’ to ‘suggest a woman had conned a man into having a baby’ – as MailOnline reveals the company will not pull the ad.

The Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) said it is ‘carefully reviewing complaints’ over the commercial which included the ‘tongue-in-cheek’ rhyme: ‘Hannah’s hoping for a girl, Dave just hopes that it’s his’.

A spokesperson for the watchdog stressed it is not investigating the clip at this stage and said most objections have focused on whether the content was acceptable to be shown on TV.

It comes as MailOnline can reveal that Lancashire-based Crown Paints is not planning on pulling the advert, instead saying that people have ‘different views on humour’ and apologising to anyone who may have been offended.

In a statement, Crown Paints said the ad was ‘broadly well received’ and that it intended to be ‘a humorous celebration of special life moments that prompt people to paint their homes’.

The Advertising Standards Agency stressed it was reviewing each of the 150 complaints it had received carefully, but it was not yet investigating it

The advert is one of a series of catchy sing-alongs shared on the paint brand’s social media channels, telling diverse ‘life stories’ by a chorus of singers.

Comedian Jenny Eclair (tweet above) posted her thoughts to her 200,000 followers on social media, asking whether the ad was appropriate for a TV audience

Although Crown Paints has come under fire for the new ad it told the MailOnline it will not be pulling it from people’s screens

Comedian Jenny Eclair put: ‘I’m watching the Crown paint ‘baby coming’ ad and I can’t be on my own thinking it’s beyond mad ‘ she’s hoping for a girl, he’s hoping that it’s his’ I find this massively offensive…’

One Twitter user put: ‘The Crown paint advert has got my vote for being one of the worse adverts ever…’

While another account tweeted: ‘Anyone else in danger of killing the TV when the Crown paint advert comes on?’

The advert prompted angry responses online. Tara posted on Twitter: ‘Dave hopes it’s his? Are we living in the 1970s still? Disgusting. And vomit inducingly twee’

Sonja Evans wrote: ‘Absolutely disgraceful advert casting Hannah as a woman who sleeps around’

Alex Lacey posted: ‘Excuse me – Dave just hopes that it’s his? Genuinely, what were you thinking. This is a disgrace’

Caroline Parsons wrote on Facebook: ‘This is so degrading to women… There’s a baby on the way, he’s hoping it’s his, [what] flipping idiot wrote this advert. I don’t get angry often but come on… illegal raves making women out to be skanks’

Maddi Newton added: ‘Really annoyed with this advert! Insinuating that women don’t know their own minds and once again putting childfree women down… Not to mention the ‘Dave just hopes it’s his’ bit. Awful’

Susan Pugh wrote: ‘It’s not just paint, it’s derogatory to women and a c*** advert’

The advert is one of a series of sing-along ads shared on the paint brand’s social media channels, telling diverse ‘life stories’ by a chorus of singers.

It tells the story of a couple ‘Hannah and Dave’ who meet at a rave and get together, Dave wants a baby while Hannah is unsure.

When Hannah does indeed fall pregnant, a male singer knowingly sings to the camera, ‘Hannah’s hoping for a girl, Dave just hopes that it’s his’.

The advert prompted angry responses online. Tara posted on Twitter: ‘Dave hopes it’s his? Are we living in the 1970s still? Disgusting. And vomit-inducingly twee.

‘Also, is a woman not allowed to decide whether or not to have kids. Having children shouldn’t be something someone is pressured into. Your ad guys are a joke.’

Crown Paints has come under fire over alleged ‘sexism’ in its new advert about a couple expecting a baby, with viewers describing is as ‘misogynistic’, ‘derogatory to women’ and ‘vomit-inducingly twee’.

The advert is one of a series of sing-along ads shared on Crown Paints’ social media channels, telling diverse ‘life stories’ by a chorus of singers

Jenny Scott tweeted: ‘Seriously bad advert. Women who don’t want children are constantly told they will change their minds. This advert just plays to that false narrative.’

Sonja Evans wrote: ‘Absolutely disgraceful advert casting Hannah as a woman who sleeps around.’

Alex Lacey posted: ‘Excuse me – Dave just hopes that it’s his? Genuinely, what were you thinking. This is a disgrace.’

Nicola Piper tweeted: ”Dave hopes that it’s his’ erm, what the heck is that!!’

Susan Pugh wrote: ‘It’s not just paint, it’s derogatory to women and a c*** advert.’

In response to some of the criticism, Crown Paints wrote: ‘We are sorry you feel this way. We see Hannah as an empowered female character, comfortable in making her own decisions and in control of if and when she changes her mind.

‘We’re sorry if you were upset by the remark in this advert – we were simply trying to tell the story of one of life’s most special moments in a light-hearted way.’

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