The spot was created by Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/Y&R to illustrate Virgin Mobile's high level of customer service. In the commercial, a young man is seen standing at a urinal, when an attendant moves behind him to help him urinate.
Despite the fact that the ad was shot from the waist up, 427 people contacted the advertising watchdog to complain that the implication that the attendant was holding the other man's penis was disgusting.
Other members of the public complained that the ad was denigrating to black people, because all the characters were black, and two people said it denigrated disabled people and their carers because it made fun of the idea that someone needed help using the toilet.
Virgin Mobile defended the use of black actors, saying it had always sought to include a diverse range of people in its advertising.
Ofcom rejected all the complaints, saying the commercial showed a situation that was ludicrous and bizarre and had no sexual overtones.
It said: "We agree with the advertiser that the use of black actors was irrelevant and this could therefore not be seen as being derogatory to black people. Similarly, given the overall tone and context of the advertisement, it did not mock the disabled or their carers."
If you have an opinion on this or any other issue raised on Brand Republic, join the debate in the .
.jpg)
.jpg)