A ceramics company caused a controversy in the East Java capital of Surabaya after it put up a billboard ad featuring a woman who critics complained was showing too much skin.
The ad, which was meant to celebrate Indonesia’s Independence Day (August 17), showed a woman draped in Indonesia’s red and white flag with her left thigh visible.
The ad was taken down by the city’s Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) on Saturday after the city received numerous complaints about the ad’s alleged inappropriateness.
“The ad doesn’t violate regulations or permits, but it’s wrong aesthetically and it could create unrest or negative perceptions,” said Satpol PP Surabaya head Irvan Widyanto, as quoted by Detik on Saturday.
“We also received many complaints from the public, so that’s why we took it down.”
The company behind the ad, Platinum Ceramics, apologized for the ad after it was taken down.
“There was no ill intention. Our (company) owner’s intention was just art. We apologize,” said Platinum Ceramics marketing officer Bagus, as quoted by Detik on Saturday.
The company said they had put up the ad in two locations, one of which was up for three days prior to its removal. They had planned to put up the ad in 15 more locations, but have now decided to come up with a new ad design that doesn’t have anything that might be deemed aesthetically offensive.
