"Are you beach body ready?" tube advert causes a stir

[lemons]

So this advert has been across the london underground for around 2 weeks maybe and I have seen it on several occasions but never thought much of it until I saw some stuff on BuzzFeed about it


http://i2.cdnds.net/15/18/618x324/media-protein-world-advert.jpg


Protein World's latest campaign asks if women are "beach body ready", alongside an image of a slim model. Thousands of people have criticised the ad for suggesting that only women of a certain shape are ready to wear bikinis in the summer.

Several billboards in the London Underground have been defaced, with some altering it to read "Each body's ready".

In response, chief executive Arjun Seth told Channel 4 News that the adverts are "aspirational" and that he would only take notice of a growing petition if it reached a million signatures.

He said those who have campaigned online and destroyed the ads are "terrorists, you can quote me on that".

Over 45,000 people have signed a Change.org petition calling for the ads to be removed from the London Underground.

Founder Charlotte Baring wrote: "Protein World is directly targeting individuals, aiming to make them feel physically inferior to the unrealistic body image of the bronzed model, in order to sell their product.

"Perhaps not everyone's priority is having a 'beach body' (by the way, what is that?), and making somebody feel guilty for not prioritising it by questioning their personal choices is a step too far."

Last week, Protein World defended the ad by pointing out that its model Renee Somerfield has a healthy BMI, saying: "It is a shame that in 2015 there are still a minority who aren't focusing on celebrating those who aspire to be healthier, fitter and stronger.

"We now run Britain's largest protein facility, selling our products in over 50 countries to more than 300,000 customers. Most of them are women. How could we possibly be sexist?"

Meanwhile, Somerfield herself has responded to the controversy, saying that some feminists have made her feel body-shamed.

"I think nearly every ad campaign you have ever seen is open to interpretation," she told the Huffington Post. "But saying the ad is body shaming by body shaming the image is very contradictory. Two wrongs don't make a right."

She added: "I am a real person behind the image. I work very hard and live a healthy and active lifestyle which is why Protein World chose me for their campaign.

"I couldn't work every day as a full time model by starving myself, dieting or not looking after my body. Nourish your body, be kind to it and it will love you right back, no matter your size. I agree that ALL bodies are 'beach body ready'. Skinny, curvy, muscular, petite, tall, short, young and old. Confidence is beautiful no matter what size you are. Your reflection doesn't define your worth."

Read more: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/news/a644364/beach-body-firm-denounces-terrorists-who-defaced-london-posters.html#ixzz3YYFaU4gK


Here are some pics/tweets of what people think about the adverts

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You should also check out the twitter feed of Protein World because whoever is running their timeline is so unprofessional and just a ****! (in fact I think it's the CEO) - https://twitter.com/ProteinWorld

---

Personally I think there is nothing wrong with the advert but the way protein world are handling the situation is quite immature, however according to them they have made £1m in the last 4 days so..

[Kyle]

I wonder would this have gotten the same, less, or more backlash if it featured both a man and a woman. It's not an unattainable standard of beauty, it is an attainable standard of health with a poorly concocted tagline.

[Alkaz]

So that's not okay but what Hollister and Abercrombie & Fitch (and other brands) are doing is fine? Millions of people are carrying their bags around advertising the ''perfect'' body.

[Phil]

I don't think this is that bad but maybe (clearly) women have a better stance on it. I think "beach body" is a term that is widely known and I don't see a problem with these companies using that term to make sales. In regards to the picture of the woman, this is used in advertising all over the world for everything. People hire attractive people to attract customers to their product.

What this company is doing is no different to what no other company does so I don't think it's worth lashing out. Forgive me if I have offended anyone.

[FlyingJesus]

Utterly ridiculous. Body image is hugely important and it's something I struggle with all the time but an advert implying that you could look like X if you buy/do Y is not problematic in any way. People love to get up in arms over this sort of thing but if this is offensive then so is an advert for Oxfam because omf it's totes saying that if you don't donate to them you hate children!!!!!!

Advertising is a big business for a reason. Tired tired tired of the idea that preferences and ideals are a bad thing

[sexpot]

ngl the people who have a problem with this probably don't see A&F and such having half naked men with rock hard abs and sculpted chests on their shopping bags as a problem either

[dbgtz]

https://i.imgur.com/30h0HoM.png
https://i.imgur.com/s1Xueqc.png


Laughing so hard at the @VagendaMagazine tweet "**** the patriarchy" lmao that makes no sense!! What are they even on about their body not being a commodity? That's not even relevant!! People need to stop being little fairies over a bloody advertisement as far as I'm concerned rather rather than vandalise property. I hope they end up having to pay for the damage caused. You can call out ProteinWorld for being unprofessional all you want but I don't see you mentioning the behaviour of the other people which is far worse.

[-:Undertaker:-]

Fat people shouldn't be wearing bikinis or speedos. Of course they can if they really really really want to, but it ain't a pretty sight to the rest of us. And I don't understand why we should all be forced to pretend by the far-left tumblr nutters that every body shape is beautiful when it simply isn't. Those who are offended should take more notice of their own body which is probably offended health-wise by the amount of food they're shoving down their gob.

[Chippiewill]

Beach Body has been a colloquial term for losing weight for the summer for years. I don't get the issue.

[Matt]

I love how people are writing over them.

I'm not a woman so the sign doesn't really apply to me and therefore I'm not overly bothered by it. Even if it was a picture of a guy I don't think I'd care either tbh, I just tend to ignore that kind of stuff because half the time the products they're advertising don't interest me.

I'd be more worried about the walk to the beach and having to walk on bloody huge pebbles to even get to water. So glad we have sand here.

[lemons]

wonder why people didn't moan about this one :rolleyes: both advertising a similar product and both bodies aren't impossible to achieve

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[buttons]

looks like some of the adverts are on the opposite side of the subway, so they've risked their lives to graffiti on a piece of paper lmao

it's ridiculous. that girl is clearly someone who looks after their body or else she wouldn't be the face for a PROTEIN company. if you get offended by a woman's body (which they're ironically body shaming) then you live a highly privileged life. go fight some real issues, girls.

[MotorStefan95]

I also love how people are writing over the adverts, it shows that they should not be there as they have an expectation of women that should not be present in today's society but sadly is. It more or less is saying that women need a body like the one shown to go to a beach. I believe that if a woman wants to go to a beach, they do not need to look like that and should be proud of the body they have.

I also really don't see how defacing an advert is seen as terrorism.

[lemons]

looks like some of the adverts are on the opposite side of the subway, so they've risked their lives to graffiti on a piece of paper lmao
the ones which have been written on are on the platform or above peoples seats on the tube itself, either way still childish




I also really don't see how defacing an advert is seen as terrorism.

maybe terrorism is a bit too far but it's definitely vandalism! if some gangster kid started spray painting on the underground people would be furious

[MotorStefan95]

maybe terrorism is a bit too far but it's definitely vandalism! if some gangster kid started spray painting on the underground people would be furious

Yeah I agree with that, its a bit too far to call it terrorism, but its definitely vandalism, and even though they don't agree with what the advert is showing, it doesn't give them an excuse to graffiti over it.

[Becca]

Fat people shouldn't be wearing bikinis or speedos. Of course they can if they really really really want to, but it ain't a pretty sight to the rest of us. And I don't understand why we should all be forced to pretend by the far-left tumblr nutters that every body shape is beautiful when it simply isn't. Those who are offended should take more notice of their own body which is probably offended health-wise by the amount of food they're shoving down their gob.

when i was fat i wore bikinis cause i do what i want and i didn't need people like yourself telling me i couldn't
i felt fabulous in it don't worry
i got skinnier for myself not to stop being 'offended' by adverts like this, it wasn't for my health it was for me to wear this mega hot dress that i couldn't wear when i was fatter

the fact that you're saying 'fat people should not wear what they want' makes *REMOVED*
some people thought my fat body was beautiful, some people didn't

opinions like this is exactly why you're sat on a habbo fansite forum single & alone in the world
grow up it's 2015

Edited by Wispur (General Manager): Please do not make rude comments towards other members.

[Charz777]

I really don't get the problem with this. It promotes a healthy looking body. When I saw this I just assumed it was like any other advert, why wouldn't they use someone healthy to advertise a health product? They aren't going to sell very much if their product doesn't appear to be working.

At no point did I overreact and say 'Does this mean I can't go on the beach because I'm not that thin or fit?' Of course that's not true. I can go on the beach, I can wear a bikini and I don't need to make sarcastic comments about it. I'm not fat but I'm not thin either and I have no issue with this kind of advertising.

[-:Undertaker:-]

when i was fat i wore bikinis cause i do what i want and i didn't need people like yourself telling me i couldn't
i felt fabulous in it don't worry
i got skinnier for myself not to stop being 'offended' by adverts like this, it wasn't for my health it was for me to wear this mega hot dress that i couldn't wear when i was fatter

the fact that you're saying 'fat people should not wear what they want' makes you look like an absolute ********

grow up it's 2015

hey you're welcome to wear it i just said you can't get offended, like you JUST HAVE, when people say they don't think it looks good.

i don't think fat people in bikinis with the folds bursting out everywhere looks attractive. why should i have to pretend to in order to help you delude yourself?


some people thought my fat body was beautiful, some people didn't

opinions like this is exactly why you're sat on a habbo fansite forum single & alone in the world

and i have a great social life and mates thanks xx

now get back to tumblr, off you roll.

[Becca]

hey you're welcome to wear it i just said you can't get offended, like you JUST HAVE, when people say they don't think it looks good.

I'd be happier if you stated your opinion as, "I don't like it when fat people wear bikinis and that is my opinion," rather than, "FAT PEOPLE SHOULDN'T WEAR THEM" because it makes *REMOVED*


i don't think fat people in bikinis with the folds bursting out everywhere looks attractive. why should i have to pretend to in order to help you delude yourself?
I don't think it looks attractive either, it's not about pretending, it's ignoring it. Why would you sit there judging others for the way they dress? But hey ho if you want to spend your time on holiday staring at people who are overweight and commenting on their dress sense then be my guest babe.


and i have a great social life and mates thanks xx

now get back to tumblr, off you roll.

*REMOVED*

I haven't been on Tumblr for about 5 years, off to the real world I go with my fabulous size 8 body xx

Edited by Wispur (General Manager): Please do not make rude comments towards other members.

[Evanora]

*REMOVED*

hmm very interesting perspective coming from a gal whose main source of affection is through a computer screen he he

on topic; people on beaches who have gone out to have a nice day in the sun shouldn't be subjected to horrific sights such as this just because one person is too lazy to do something about their weight in the 12 months which precede june

please think of the children

http://www.hawtcelebs.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gemma-collins-in-bikini-in-dubai_6.jpg

although it would be a good alternative to wearing sun cream since the sun will be blocked for most of the beach anyway

[Empired]

Fat people shouldn't be wearing bikinis or speedos. Of course they can if they really really really want to, but it ain't a pretty sight to the rest of us. And I don't understand why we should all be forced to pretend by the far-left tumblr nutters that every body shape is beautiful when it simply isn't. Those who are offended should take more notice of their own body which is probably offended health-wise by the amount of food they're shoving down their gob.
Your ridiculous comments on things that don't impact you in the slightest shouldn't be posted on HabboxForum or any other forum for that matter. Of course you can post them if you really really really want to, but it ain't a pretty sight for the rest of us. And I don't understand why we should all be forced to pretend that your body-shaming, downright disrespectful comments are acceptable when they simply aren't. If you're offended by this perhaps you should take more notice of what's coming out of your mouth instead of judging what other people are putting into theirs.

I am on the borderline between being a healthy weight and being overweight but I've never eaten more healthily in my life. I lost 9kg last summer/autumn by starving myself to the point where I'd have to sit down to stop myself from fainting, until it got to the point where I had to start eating again because I had an iron deficiency after not eating at all. If you're saying you'd rather see me in that state because it's "easier on the eyes" for you than the considerably healthier state that I'm in now then you're shallower than I thought you were.

Adverts like this do nothing for me. Any kind of advert which uses overly sexualised images of men or women tend to completely go over my head. I don't support this image but it doesn't upset me either because I simply couldn't care less. The problem I have with the campaign against this advert is that in the very act of protesting against the idea that adverts shouldn't rule our lives, protesters are letting this ad dominate their own lives.

[Becca]

hmm very interesting perspective coming from a gal whose main source of affection is through a computer screen he he


even funnier comment coming from some weirdo 13 year old asian boy who researchers into people's personal lives just to make and a joke, its funny cause u think ppl till believe ur a girl!!!!!!!! do 1

[Evanora]

even funnier comment coming from some weirdo 13 year old asian boy who researchers into people's personal lives just to make and a joke, its funny cause u think ppl till believe ur a girl!!!!!!!! do 1

oops did i touch a nerve

[Alkaz]

Lmao some people are ridiculously rude in this thread, should probably know better.

OT: The company's sales are up 30% /£2m since this scandal came out a few weeks ago.

[scottish]

It's pretty obvious undertaker was scarred as a child seeing his mother in a bikini, leave the poor guy alone.

[-:Undertaker:-]

Your ridiculous comments on things that don't impact you in the slightest shouldn't be posted on HabboxForum or any other forum for that matter. Of course you can post them if you really really really want to, but it ain't a pretty sight for the rest of us. And I don't understand why we should all be forced to pretend that your body-shaming, downright disrespectful comments are acceptable when they simply aren't. If you're offended by this perhaps you should take more notice of what's coming out of your mouth instead of judging what other people are putting into theirs.

body shaming? yeah people who are huge and eat loads SHOULD be ashamed of their bodies because it doesn't look good and no amount of tumblr photos with huge feminists holding up cards saying "every shape is bootiful xx" is gonna change the reality of it.


https://fatgirlfoodsquad.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/fat-and-attractive.jpg


just no no no.



I'd be happier if you stated your opinion as, "I don't like it when fat people wear bikinis and that is my opinion," rather than, "FAT PEOPLE SHOULDN'T WEAR THEM" because it makes you look like a massive *****

ummmmmmm what. of course it's my opinion that's why i posted it.

if you need people to write "thats my opinion" everytime they say something then you're barking up the wrong tree with me.

[Empired]

body shaming? yeah people who are huge and eat loads SHOULD be ashamed of their bodies because it doesn't look good and no amount of tumblr photos with huge feminists holding up cards saying "every shape is bootiful xx" is gonna change the reality of it.
I believe that up until a few decades ago white people believed that black people were born to be forced into slavery and nothing else. If we can change our attitudes about that, why is it impossible to change our attitudes about this?

[Kyle]

I believe that up until a few decades ago white people believed that black people were born to be forced into slavery and nothing else. If we can change our attitudes about that, why is it impossible to change our attitudes about this?
race isn't something that can be changed, health and weight is. why must we change our attitudes and be accepting of 'all shapes and sizes' if something can be done to prevent it happening in the first place or indeed changing it once it has become a problem.

[MKR&*42]

http://s1.postimg.org/42nxopsrj/1430492564851.png
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There is nothing wrong with the advert. As the company said on Twitter:

Person: rara im insecure rara you arent helping rara
Company: Why should your insecurities be our problem.

This is a complete non issue and kudos to the company for sticking to it.

[Empired]

race isn't something that can be changed, health and weight is. why must we change our attitudes and be accepting of 'all shapes and sizes' if something can be done to prevent it happening in the first place or indeed changing it once it has become a problem.
We should make people aware of the health problems that accompany obesity but I don't know how you suggest we force people into staying a healthy weight.

[The Don]

We should make people aware of the health problems that accompany obesity but I don't know how you suggest we force people into staying a healthy weight.

Isn't making people aware of the health problems surrounding obesity the complete opposite of what your previous post said?


I believe that up until a few decades ago white people believed that black people were born to be forced into slavery and nothing else. If we can change our attitudes about that, why is it impossible to change our attitudes about this?

There is stigma associated with obesity because it's unhealthy. Whilst I don't think it's right to mock people about their weight I also don't think it's right to pander to those that are trying to redefine every size as healthy.

[-:Undertaker:-]

Can't believe Empired; just compared having a different colour skin tone to being a salad dodger.

[Empired]

Isn't making people aware of the health problems surrounding obesity the complete opposite of what your previous post said?



There is stigma associated with obesity because it's unhealthy. Whilst I don't think it's right to mock people about their weight I also don't think it's right to pander to those that are trying to redefine every size as healthy.
Dunno maybe. If you're aware of the health problems surrounding obesity but still choose to be obese, I don't see why anyone else should be able to tell you to change.


Can't believe @Empired (http://www.habboxforum.com/member.php?u=80588); just compared having a different colour skin tone to being a salad dodger.
I was waiting for this exact comment lol! I should probably clear up that that wasn't the comparison I was trying to make. It was more that I don't see why if everyone can accept one thing that doesn't affect an onlooker in the slightest, we can't accept another.

[Kyle]

We should make people aware of the health problems that accompany obesity but I don't know how you suggest we force people into staying a healthy weight.
through stigma. why not? if it works, it works.

[GommeInc]

Seems an over-reaction but I honestly am not surprised any more. We're all ugly. Get over it.

[Sharon]

'response' from a plus sized 'model' for it:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3067565/Are-ready-beach-body-Plus-size-model-Ashley-Graham-hits-fat-shaming-Protein-World-ad-sexy-bikini-picture.html

lets be realistic this is embarrassing and further blowing it out of proportion as if it wasn't already... no one wants to see that on a billboard if that was the actual thing it would have been laughed at! they are selling protein for weight loss they're not going to put a size 16 model on it are they obv ur going use a skinny minnie to be like "hey u can achieve this if u buy it!!!"

when they advertise protein shakes/weights/equipment for men they aren't going to use really skinny/weedy guys or a really overweight

[dbgtz]

Honestly ridiculous how big this is getting and that the Protein World ads were pulled and banned because a few people got offended. Dreading what it's going to be like in 10 years time as it slowly spreads like a tumour into other aspects of people's lives.

[FlyingJesus]

We're all ugly.

SPEAK FOR YOURSELF LOVE :@:@:@:@

[Cody]

As much as I am a fitness fanatic these types of ads despise me. Let people be who they want to be. Anyone should feel comfortable in their own bodies and love themselves.


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[dbgtz]

As much as I am a fitness fanatic these types of ads despise me. Let people be who they want to be. Anyone should feel comfortable in their own bodies and love themselves.


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A lot of these kinds of people do more than that though. They outright think they are healthy and will bash people for being skinnier and if memory serves me right, I'm pretty sure a lot of them bashed the person in the advert. I also feel like if they were comfortable with their bodies they wouldn't need to resort to damaging property and making threats. I don't disagree with what you're saying as such, but it has to apply to everybody which it clearly doesn't.

[Cody]

I agree with what you're saying too' because that's the true question you have to ask yourself, your body may look healthy but is it really?


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[Earthquake]

to be fair, most of the people who work behind the scenes for these companies are deffo not beach ready.

[Cody]

Hahah that's so accurate Earthquake;


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