The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has rejected complaints over an allegedly offensive poster advertising Don Broco's latest LP, Technology.
The poster of the album artwork (above) includes an image of a figure in the style of a religious icon, with the face replaced by a snarling dog.
The ASA was contacted by two complainants, who claimed the ad would cause serious offence to Christians. However, the watchdog has ruled it was "unlikely to cause serious or widespread offence".
"The ASA understood that the image in the ad was reminiscent of the Black Madonna of Czestochowa, a revered icon of the Virgin Mary in the Catholic Christian faith, although it was not an alteration of a specific image," it said in its ruling.
"We acknowledged that some members of the Christian faith would object to the use of the image in an ad, and in particular the replacement of the face with a snarling dog. However, we considered that it was clear the ad was for an album and that the image was being presented as artwork in that context.
"We also considered that the image would not be seen as mocking or derogatory towards the Madonna or Christian faith in general, and there was nothing else within the ad which gave that impression. We concluded that the ad was unlikely to cause serious or widespread offence."
Ad firm Exterion Media (UK) Ltd said it did not believe the ad would cause serious or widespread offence to the public, particularly in the context of the product being advertised.
Technology, Don Broco's third studio album, was released in February via SharpTone Records, peaking at No.5 in the UK. While Sony Music UK is named in the ruling, a spokesperson confirmed to Music Week that the label had nothing to do with the release, having parted ways with the band back in 2016.
