A Carlton and United Breweries (CUB) ad which was seen to be ridiculing people with red hair has been discontinued.
The CUB campaign included television and internet promotions for rare ‘Yak Ale’ products that had been packaged in a ginger wrapper.
The ads urged viewers to “stop the gene spreading” by finding the ginger bottle designs hiding within six packs of beer.
The Ad Standards board upheld complaints that the term “ginger gene” was used in a pejorative manner and that it is "very offensive for the advertisement to be discriminating against those with red hair”.
Another complaint issued to the Ad Standards board slammed the campaign, saying it is "offensive" and "racist" and "encouraging bullying of a minority group", reported AdNews.
"The campaign makes fun of people with ginger hair and portrays them in an inferior manner," the complainant said.
CUB attempted to fight off the complaints saying the ad (below) was intended to be "humorous" and "light-hearted", but the Ad Stadards board ruled the ad did in fact "vilify" and "ridicule" people with red hair.
