An advert that promoted a new series of Channel 4's hit show, Big Fat Gypsy Weddings is being investigated for racism by the ASA, according to reports.
The ads, which were posted on billboards, featured the slogan, "Bigger. Fatter, Gypsier" and received 370 complaints. They also caused outrage with the travelling community who branded the slogan as "racist".
Dismissing the complaints and the claims that the advert was racist in March, the Metro reports that the ASA have now done a U-turn and opened up the investigation after admitting that the their decision was "flawed".
According to the Mail Online, in a statement released yesterday, the ASA said: "Following a recommendation from the Independent Reviewer of ASA adjudications, the ASA Council has decided that its original decision not to conduct a formal investigation into complaints about the Channel 4 Broadcasting Ltd’s advertising campaign for the TV programme Big Fat Gypsy Wedding was flawed.
"It has decided that a formal investigation should now commence.
"In their evaluation, the Council noted that it had made its original decision without the benefit of knowing that the Irish Traveller Movement of Britain had complained and that this was a material fact to which they should have had regard."
Responding to a complaint made by the The London Gypsy and Traveller Unit earlier this year, Channel 4 said:
"The word refers to the fact that this series offers even greater access and insight to the communities featured and the terms 'gipsy’ or 'gypsier’ are not being used in a negative context.
"The advertising campaign builds on the celebratory nature of the first series of Big Fat Gypsy Weddings... Everyone featured in the campaign saw the posters before they went public and were happy with them."
What do you think?
Big Fat Gypsy Weddings
Entertainment News