Pizza Billboard Causes Controversy

New Zealand advertiser is blunt:

A decision is due to be made today whether a billboard labelling President Bush an ‘evil bastard’ is appropriate.

The Hell Pizza billboards have been erected around Auckland and Wellington. Half of the poster is taken up with a photo of the president and the other half has the phrase ‘Hell: Too Good For Some Evil Bastards.’

Outdoor Advertising New Zealand is reviewing who is behind the boards and whether the Advertising Standards Authority needs to become involved.

Hell’s media manager, Matthew Blomfield, says they expected to cause a bit of a stir. He says it is meant to provoke discussion and be a little edgy, instead of bland, boring advertising. Mr Blomfield is hoping reaction will be balanced between those who find it funny and those who are upset by it.

I’m glad we don’t have an “Advertising Standards Authority” in the US, saying that if an advertisement upsets some people it may have to be banned.

Imagine if every ad for pizza called George W. Bush an evil bastard…

UPDATE:

Here is a photo of the Hell Pizza billboard.