The Advertising Standards Authority in the UK has ruled that a new ad for perfume, created by designer Marc Jacobs, sexualizes children. The campaign features teenage actress Dakota Fanning posing with an oversized bottle of perfume between her legs. The fragrance is called “Oh, Lola!” and the name is a reference to the famous literary character Lolita. You know, the 12 year-old who had sex with a man four times her age.

Here is the image that the ASA had issues with:

This is the ruling by the ASA:

We noted that the model was holding up the perfume bottle which rested in her lap between her legs and we considered that its position was sexually provocative. We understood the model was 17 years old but we considered she looked under the age of 16. We considered that the length of her dress, her leg and position of the perfume bottle drew attention to her sexuality. Because of that, along with her appearance, we considered the ad could be seen to sexualise a child.

Coty, makers of Oh, Lola! said it did not believe the ad suggested the model was underage.

We don’t believe the ad is inappropriately sexualised as it didn’t show any private body parts or sexual activity . The giant perfume bottle – shaped like a vase holding a blooming pink flower – is provoking, but not indecent.

[Source: Telegraph]