Cheap as Chips Christmas catalogue with mankini and novelty apron draws complaints at Advertising Standards Board

CHEAP as Chips has defended a risque image in its latest Christmas catalogue, claiming the image is no worse than a lingerie advertisement.

The risque “Office Party 2017” Cheap as Chips ad in question.

AN Adelaide budget retailer has come out in defence of a risque image in its latest Christmas catalogue, claiming the picture is no worse than a lingerie advertisement.

The Cheap as Chips “Office Party 2017” ad received multiple complaints at the Advertising Standards Board, with people concerned that the image appears as though Father Christmas is inappropriately touching a female co-worker’s breast region.

The female is wearing a novelty apron and the ad also shows a man wearing nothing but a Santa hat and a “man-kini”.

Issues raised with the ASB include “objectification” and “sexuality” and “nudity”.

One complainant said: “The photo of the office party 2017 is offensive on several levels ... ‘Father Christmas’ appears at a glance as though he is groping his female co-worker, standing over her with an over familiar expression on his face”.

Another wrote: “This image on the cover has a man wearing barely nothing.

“Only a small novelty Christmas man-kini covers his genitals.

“This advertising was in our letterbox which is accessible to children,” one complainant wrote.

Another complainant highlighted a man appearing to grope a colleague’s apron.

“This advertising was in our letterbox which is accessible to children.”

The board agreed the ad was inappropriate across many levels and breached “section 2.4 and 2.6 of the Code” which states advertisements “shall treat sex, sexuality and nudity with sensitivity to the relevant audience”.

The ASB also concluded the ad featured inappropriate sexual imagery for children.

“The Board noted the complainants concerns that the behaviour of the man dressed as Santa in particular makes it appear as though he is groping her and that this is inappropriate behaviour,” the board said.

“The Board noted that there is significant community concern regarding sexual harassment and appropriate behaviour in the workplace and that the depiction of the man grabbing the woman on the breast is not behaviour that is acceptable in this environment.”

However, a statement by the ASB said “the Board noted that the woman is wearing a novelty apron and that it is likely that her actual breast is not being fondled.”

A statement from Cheap as Chips chief executive officer Shane Radbone said the letterbox catalogue drew a few complaints but the company was not asked to modify or discontinue the advertisement.

“We didn’t set out to offend anyone - just to promote some of our novelty Christmas items which just happen to include a festive mankini and novelty apron - neither of which reveals more than the plentiful range of lingerie catalogues that also turn up in my letterbox at Christmas,” he said.

The ASB said the organisation would “continue to work with the advertiser and relevant bodies regarding this matter”.