Family hit out at TV billboard

Oct 6 2006 By Jasbir Authi, Birmingham Mail

BILLBOARDS bearing the slogan 'Who Says Nothing Good Ever Came out of America' are causing offence across Birmingham, the Advertising Standards Authority says.

The advertising campaign for Five television incensed mother-of-two Karen Jones, of Highgate, who is married to an American.

The Advertising Standards Authority is received more than 35 complaints from the public and is looking into it.

Mrs Jones, whose daughters Rebecca, aged six, and Bethany, two were born in the US and have dual citizenship, was infuriated when she saw the billboard in the city centre.

The 43-year-old paediatric nurse said: "My husband Michael saw it first. I thought, that's not good.

"I wanted to see if there was another billboard further down to counteract it, or make it a joke, but there wasn't.

"I wasn't even sure what it was trying to say - it wasn't advertising anything. It is not true because my husband and children are wonderful," she said.

"I would like it to be removed and for whoever put it up there to apologise to my family," she said.

Mrs Jones even considered painting over the billboard, but was told by West Midlands Police that she could face arrest.

Birmingham City Council then advised her to complain to the Advertising Standards Authority.

Matt Wilson, from the ASA, said: "We have had 35 complaints about the advert so far and are looking into it and establishing if there are grounds for an investigation."

Paul Leather, from Five, said the posters formed part of a "tease campaign" to support the launch of a new digital channel, the second part of which replaces the original posters this week.

"It is regrettable if anyone was offended by the original poster, but as the new poster demonstrates that was never our intention."

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