Honey Birdette lingerie billboard in Rundle Mall causes controversy
A RAUNCHY ad for lingerie that leaves little to the imagination has been causing a stir in Rundle Mall. But should it stay or go? You decide — vote now.
A RAUNCHY ad for lingerie that leaves little to the imagination has been causing a stir in Rundle Mall — and not all the attention has been welcome.
Lingerie store Honey Birdette has two posters on its shop windows featuring women in a new range of underwear where one model’s nipple is visible.
Mother Tracey Henley, 54, from Seaford Rise and daughter Stacey Henley, 31, from Huntfield Heights were shopping in the centre on Tuesday and agreed the advertisement could offend people.
Stacey, who is about to be married, said she could see two sides to the provocative image.
“I’d want to maybe dress something like that for a present for my partner,” she said.
“But maybe that picture could be on the inside of the door.
“You’ve got little kids and stuff running around and older mature people that probably think it's a bit inappropriate.”
Stacey said people who knew the name of the store and what products it offered would not be surprised.
However, as someone who didn’t know what the store offered, Tracey said “I thought it was a bit raunchy”.
“I can see how people are offended, especially if they’ve got kids.”
Honey Birdette’s store manager said they had not received any complaints.
However, Myer Centre Adelaide manager Peter Lee said they had fielded complaints regarding the posters.
“We have been liaising with the retailer’s national office in this regard and have requested the current posters be removed from display as soon as possible,” Mr Lee said.
Adelaide City councillor Phil Martin said he believed people should be able to consume what they wished, however the image did objectify women.
“There is the matter of causing offence in public places and I can see that that image has the potential,” he said.
“It shouldn’t be posted outside the store where it may offend.
“There is public standards and this probably is a little over the line.”
Often outspoken councillor Anne Moran said while “it was pretty close to the edge of not being appropriate” it was okay.
“If people are being upset by it then we might have to have a think about it but its only bosoms.”
Cr Moran, who has walked passed the poster, said “it did make me look”.
It’s not the first time the Honey Birdette store in Rundle Mall has come under the spotlight.
In 2014, the lingerie chain had to remove adult products from its store after it failed to inform the council that it would sell sex toys.
TELL US BELOW: Are the posters too raunchy for Rundle Mall?