In today’s fast-paced world of advertising, brands are constantly striving to create campaigns that will capture attention and go viral. However, the drive to be bold or innovative sometimes leads to massive blunders, with ads causing outrage instead of admiration.

These are more than just PR missteps—these campaigns generated global backlash, sparked debates about social issues, and forced brands to reevaluate their approaches. Here are ten contemporary advertising campaigns that backfired spectacularly.

Related: Ten Controversial News Stories Surrounding ChatGPT

10 Pepsi’s “Live for Now” Protest Ad (2017)

Pepsi’s 2017 “Live for Now” ad starring Kendall Jenner quickly became a prime example of how not to co-opt social movements for advertising purposes. The commercial showed Jenner abandoning a photoshoot to join a protest, where she eventually hands a can of Pepsi to a police officer, seemingly resolving the tension between the protestors and the authorities. The ad attempted to align the brand with activism but was widely condemned for trivializing serious social issues, particularly in light of the ongoing Black Lives Matter movement.

The imagery of Jenner, a white supermodel, handing a soda to a police officer to diffuse a protest was viewed as tone-deaf, given the real-world struggles faced by marginalized communities in confrontations with law enforcement. Critics pointed out that the ad seemed to reduce the complex realities of protests to a superficial moment of corporate goodwill. Social media users flooded platforms with memes and criticism, forcing Pepsi to pull the ad within 24 hours of its release. The company issued an apology, but the controversy lingered, and the campaign became a lasting symbol of corporate misjudgment.^[1]

9 Heineken’s “Sometimes, Lighter Is Better” (2018)

Heineken found itself at the center of a controversy in 2018 after releasing a commercial for its light beer featuring the tagline, “Sometimes, Lighter Is Better.” The ad showed a bartender sliding a Heineken Light past several people of color before it reached a lighter-skinned woman at the end of the bar. While the campaign was meant to promote the beer’s low-calorie content, the slogan and imagery sparked accusations of racism and insensitivity.

Many viewers, including prominent figures like Chance the Rapper, criticized the ad for its troubling racial connotations, interpreting the phrase “lighter is better” as implying a preference for lighter skin. Heineken responded by defending the ad, stating that the message was solely about the beer’s calories, but the backlash was too severe to ignore. The company eventually pulled the ad and issued an apology, but the damage to its reputation had already been done.^[2]

8 Dolce & Gabbana’s Chinese Ad Campaign (2018)

Dolce & Gabbana’s 2018 ad campaign intended to celebrate the fusion of Italian and Chinese culture ahead of a Shanghai fashion show. The ads, however, sparked immediate backlash for their portrayal of a Chinese model struggling to eat Italian food with chopsticks. The campaign was widely criticized for its racial stereotyping and cultural insensitivity, with many accusing the luxury brand of reducing Chinese culture to a caricature.

The situation escalated when alleged racist comments from co-founder Stefano Gabbana surfaced on social media, further inflaming public outrage. Chinese celebrities boycotted the brand, and Dolce & Gabbana’s highly anticipated runway show in Shanghai was canceled. Despite issuing an apology, the brand suffered significant reputational damage in China, a key market for luxury goods. Dolce & Gabbana continues to face challenges in rebuilding its image in the region.^[3]

7 Peloton’s “The Gift That Gives Back” (2019)

Peloton, the luxury fitness company known for its exercise bikes, released a holiday ad in 2019 that ignited a firestorm of criticism. The ad featured a husband gifting his wife a Peloton bike for Christmas, and she then records her fitness journey throughout the year. While the commercial was intended to highlight personal transformation and empowerment, many viewers interpreted it as sexist and tone-deaf. The woman, who already appeared fit, was seen as pressured to maintain her physique for her husband’s approval.

Social media users were quick to lampoon the ad, creating memes that mocked its premise. Critics pointed out that the ad perpetuated unhealthy gender stereotypes, with some accusing Peloton of portraying the wife as anxious to meet her husband’s expectations. The backlash was so intense that Peloton’s stock dropped, and the company spent weeks managing the PR fallout. Despite defending its intentions, Peloton acknowledged that the ad did not resonate as expected.^[4]

6 Gillette’s “The Best Men Can Be” (2019)

In early 2019, Gillette released an ad titled “The Best Men Can Be,” which tackled toxic masculinity and called on men to challenge behaviors like bullying, sexual harassment, and sexism. The ad, inspired by the #MeToo movement, featured men stepping in to stop negative behaviors and promoting positive male role models [LINK 5]. While the campaign was praised by some for addressing an important social issue, it also sparked significant backlash.

Critics accused Gillette of alienating its core audience by appearing to lecture men about their behavior. Some saw the ad as overly political and calls for boycotts quickly gained traction online, with detractors claiming that the ad unfairly generalized all men as complicit in toxic behavior. Despite the controversy, Gillette stood by the message. However, the polarizing response highlighted the risks brands face when wading into social and political issues.^[5]

5 H&M’s “Coolest Monkey in the Jungle” Hoodie (2018)

In 2018, H&M found itself embroiled in a major controversy after releasing an ad featuring a Black child wearing a hoodie that read “Coolest Monkey in the Jungle.” Given the historical use of “monkey” as a racial slur against Black people, the ad was widely condemned for its insensitivity. Social media erupted in outrage, with many accusing the brand of perpetuating harmful racial stereotypes.

Celebrities, including The Weeknd, severed ties with H&M in response to the ad, and calls for boycotts spread across the internet. The company quickly pulled the ad and issued a public apology, acknowledging that they had failed to consider the cultural implications of the imagery. Despite the swift response, the controversy raised important questions about the lack of diversity and cultural awareness in advertising.^[6]

4 Nivea’s “White Is Purity” Campaign (2017)

In 2017, Nivea released an ad campaign in the Middle East that featured a white woman dressed in white clothing, accompanied by the slogan “White Is Purity.” The campaign was intended to promote the brand’s deodorant line, but the combination of imagery and messaging immediately sparked outrage online. Critics condemned the ad for promoting racist connotations and reinforcing outdated beauty standards.

Social media users were quick to point out the problematic implications of equating purity with whiteness, and the backlash spread rapidly. Nivea swiftly pulled the ad and issued an apology, stating that the campaign was not meant to offend. However, the controversy remained a stark reminder of how easily marketing campaigns can go wrong when they fail to account for cultural sensitivities.^[7]

3 Gap’s “Love for All” Ad (2017)

Gap’s 2017 “Love for All” campaign was meant to celebrate diversity and inclusion, but one particular image in the campaign led to widespread criticism. The ad featured a group of children from different racial backgrounds, but viewers took issue with a white child resting their arm on the head of a Black child. Critics argued that the image reinforced racial stereotypes and depicted a troubling power dynamic.

The backlash was swift, with many accusing Gap of insensitivity and poor judgment. The company quickly removed the image from its platforms and issued an apology, explaining that the intention was to promote unity, not division. Despite the brand’s efforts to rectify the situation, the incident underscored the importance of thoughtful representation in advertising.^[8]

2 Kendall Jenner’s “Fyre Festival” Promo (2017)

Kendall Jenner, along with other high-profile influencers, became embroiled in the infamous Fyre Festival scandal after promoting the event on Instagram. The festival, marketed as a luxurious music experience in the Bahamas, turned out to be a complete disaster, with attendees arriving to find poor conditions, inadequate food, and no performances. Jenner, who was reportedly paid $250,000 for a single Instagram post promoting the festival, faced significant backlash for endorsing an event that turned out to be a scam.

As the details of the festival’s failure emerged, Jenner and other influencers were criticized for their role in promoting the event without conducting proper due diligence. The backlash led to lawsuits against the festival’s organizers, and the controversy became a cautionary tale about the risks of influencer marketing.^[9]

1 Burger King’s “Women Belong in the Kitchen” (2021)

On International Women’s Day 2021, Burger King UK launched a campaign that was intended to highlight the gender disparity in the culinary industry. The campaign’s headline, however, read “Women belong in the kitchen,” a provocative statement that immediately sparked outrage. While the tweet was intended to draw attention to the issue of gender inequality in the restaurant industry and promote scholarships for female chefs, many interpreted it as a sexist remark.

The backlash was swift and widespread, with social media users criticizing Burger King for using such a tone-deaf phrase, especially on a day meant to celebrate women’s achievements. Although the brand quickly deleted the tweet and issued an apology, the controversy overshadowed the campaign’s intended message of support for women in the culinary field.^[10]

The right item at auction can bring instant wealth. Where there is a chance to make quick money, things often turn controversial, strange, or utterly dark.

Renowned auctioneers are accused of peddling stolen artifacts, artists destroy their work after a sale, and scientists lose valuable fossils to private collectors. Auctions also prove that whale hunting, Hitler fans, and human slave markets are alive and well.

10 The Oscar Auction

Few might recognize the name, but in 1942, Joseph Wright won an Oscar. He was not an actor but received the prestigious prize for color art direction for the movie My Gal Sal. After he passed away, the statue was inherited by his relatives.

In 2014, the family put the Oscar up for auction. Briarbrook Auction House oversaw the sale, and the winning bid was $79,200. The family turned a tidy profit, the auction house received a commission, and the unnamed buyers could snuggle with their golden trophy. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences decided to sue the lot of them.

It claimed a legal right to make the first offer to buy back an Oscar. The Academy then offered a measly $10. This hinged on the fact that a decade after Wright won, Oscar winners had to sign a waiver to that effect (and a lousy price which later dropped to $1). Even though Wright never signed the contract, it did not stop the Academy from throwing a tantrum.^[1]

9 Queen Victoria’s Bloomers

They are big. They are beautiful. Well, at least they are big and royal. This was enough for a buyer who snapped up a pair of Queen Victoria’s underpants for £1,000 at auction. Measuring around 112 centimeters (44 in) at the waist, the silk garment was embroidered with the numeral “2” and her initials “VR.”

The number meant that it was her second pair of bloomers. She wore her underpants in rotation so that none would wear out. It was also a classic example of the “open drawers” style. This meant that the bloomers had a hole in the middle for bathroom purposes.

The seller received the royal pants from a great aunt who was friends with Susan Heard, a lady’s maid from London. How did Heard get her hands on the undies? Apparently, it was normal back in the day for ladies-in-waiting to get together, have tea, and swap clothing worn by their employers.^[2]

8 A Laptop With Six Viruses

In 2019, Guo O Dong made his million. The digital artist from China wanted to make a statement about the dangers of the web. He created an unusual piece of art—a laptop infected with half a dozen of the world’s deadliest viruses. He called it The Persistence of Chaos, and somebody bought it for $1.3 million.

Dong chose a Samsung laptop running Windows XP and loaded six malware programs. They included the email worm ILOVEYOU (2000), which caused billions of dollars in damage. Another stronger worm was Sobig (2003), for a while the world’s quickest-spreading malware.

Mydoom (2004) was even worse than the other two and is still the fastest-spreading email worm. BlackEnergy (2007) was not a worm but a remote tool used to bring down computers and servers. DarkTequila (2013) and the infamous ransomware WannaCry (2017) are both out to wreck victims’ finances.^[3]

To make sure that the digitally-diseased artwork was not purchased by an evildoer, Dong worked with a cybersecurity firm to load the code and block the viruses from spreading to other networks.

7 Paintings By Hitler

Adolf Hitler needs no introduction, having exterminated millions of Jews and other “undesirables.” Apart from megalomaniacal and sociopathic tendencies, Hitler also had an artistic side.

The Nazi leader tried his hand at painting, and the general opinion is that the work is mediocre. Despite this, during a 2015 auction in Nuremburg, an anonymous buyer purchased a Hitler collection for $450,000. The 14 paintings were watercolors depicting castles and flowers.

It is definitely not Hitler’s skill that earned the large sum at the auction. He was a failed artist who was famously rejected twice when he applied to art school.^[4]

Selling bad art from the world’s most notorious dictator has raised questions about the ethics of auction houses. This is not the first time that contentious art has been sold, but Hitler was also responsible for the wholesale suppression and destruction of priceless artworks during his time in power.

6 Sketchy King Tut Sculpture

During ancient times, an Egyptian artist created a sculpture of King Tutankhamen. In 2019, it sold at Christie’s for almost $6 million and a furor erupted. That the statue was genuine and valuable was not the issue. It was how it left Egypt. According to Egypt’s antiquities ministry, the artifact was stolen from Karnak Temple in the 1970s.

The London auctioneers insisted that the statue had been legally owned by the late Prince Wilhelm von Thurn und Taxis (1919–2004). However, his son and niece denied this claim outright. When journalists investigated the case, they also found evidence that the prince had never owned the artwork.

To make matters sketchier, both the seller and the buyer stayed anonymous. It was a simple sale that turned into a diplomatic incident that might end with the quartzite sculpture being repatriated if Egypt lodges a complaint with UNESCO.^[5]

5 The Meat-Eating Dinosaur

In 2018, a dinosaur skeleton sold for $2.36 million in Paris. The sale rubbed paleontologists the wrong way. The meat-eating creature was part of a new trend that harms the efforts of researchers. Under US law, any dinosaur bones found on private land can be sold by the landowner anywhere in the world.

As fossil sales rake in big bucks, scientists fear this will encourage people to auction off their finds instead of allowing researchers to study the fossils. Worse, fossils stolen from federal land might be peddled as something the owner supposedly found on his property.

Beyond the fact that researchers cannot afford to compete at dinosaur auctions, moving a fossil from its original location removes a lot of contextual information. However, the Paris sale was controversial for another reason.

The catalog said that the creature was probably an Allosaurus, a common predator. Additionally, in what paleontologists described as pure hype, the catalog suggested that it might be an unknown type of allosaurid. If true, however, the loss to science would be all the greater.^[6]

4 A Giant Rabbit

In 2019, Christie’s hit another record, this time for the most expensive artwork sold by a living artist. As the sculpture sold for $91.1 million, one might expect a little more than what it actually was. A big rabbit.

To be fair, the bunny was cute. Forged from stainless steel, the 91-centimeter-tall (3’0″) herbivore was made to look like a balloon animal. The effect was achieved with such realism that the statue appeared weightless.

A Christie’s statement added that the rabbit’s reflective surface was “reflecting us, incorporating us within the ever-shifting drama that plays out on its surface.” In other words, it was really shiny.^[7]

The artist, Jeff Koons, did not mull over the perfect name for his record-breaker. He simply called it Rabbit. Although not exactly controversial, the anonymous sale was symptomatic of billionaires flooding the auction scene to outbid other buyers by putting down the big cash.

3 A Painting That Self-Destructed

The British artist known as Banksy achieved fame through anonymity. When nobody looks, he spray-paints his creations on buildings. Banksy’s themes made statements against commercialism, and he even told people not to buy art. Fine words for somebody whose record sale at auction was $1.4 million.

In 2018, another Banksy painting came under the hammer at Sotheby’s. It showed a little girl reaching for a red balloon, and when the auction ended, the simple scene was sold for an amount that equaled his previous record.

However, the moment the sale concluded, the painting self-destructed. A confused crowd watched the image slide into a hidden shredder and emerge in strips from the frame.^[8]

Banksy admitted that he was responsible because “to destroy is also a creative urge.” Sotheby’s was not aware of the stunt beforehand. Neither the auction house nor the buyer could be too upset. The world of high art being what it is, the destruction made the work 50 percent more valuable than before.

2 Whale Meat

In 2019, to the dismay of conservationists, Japan picked up their harpoons again. Countries that belong to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) uphold an agreement not to hunt whales, a motion that was greenlighted in 1986 due to many species being endangered.

Japan left the IWC in June to lift the ban. Even as a member, Japan had hunted. The country claimed that it was for research and not commercial whaling even though most of the 333 animals killed in 2018 ended up being sold to the country’s popular whale restaurants.

In 2019, Japan dropped the pretense and caught two minkes for commercial purposes. Their meat was sold at an auction with some cutoffs hitting gold at 15,000 yen ($140 or £110).

Despite the international controversy it caused, Japan announced plans to net another 227 whales for the year. The haul would ensure high profits as restaurants are willing to pay premium prices for the meat.^[9]

In the end, the whales might have the last laugh. In 2015, the Environmental Investigation Agency found that every dolphin and whale sample they tested was contaminated with unsafe levels of mercury.

1 A Girl

In 2018, an auction was advertised on Facebook. The object being sold? A 17-year-old girl from South Sudan. The event was condemned by human rights lawyers, anti–human trafficking organizations, and local and international communities.

In South Sudan, the tradition of selling child brides is hard to stamp out. Young girls are given to the man who provides the highest “dowry.” In this case, five men fought each other in a bidding war and not one asked the teen if this was what she wanted. She was handed over to a man in his forties as his ninth wife. He paid with luxury cars, 500 cattle, $10,000, bikes, phones, and a boat.

What angered activists—besides the selling of a child—was that she was advertised on Facebook for days before the social media giant responded to complaints and removed the post. Even then, other posts singing the auction’s praises remained. Later, a picture was published showing the sad-looking girl with the buyer.^[10]

A proper preview for this list about movie previews:

“In a world . . . where every hypersensitive man and woman has a social media megaphone, and where politically-correct journalists call for horror movie trailers to be banned . . .^[1]

From the website that brings you your favorite listicles of all things offensive comes what comment thread critics will call ‘terrific!,’ ‘meh,’ and ‘another awful list from this idiot writer.

Ten Controversial Movie Trailers,’ a rollercoaster journey showcasing some of cinema’s most upsetting film previews.”

This list is not yet rated. Enjoy.

Top 10 Origins Of Controversial Stereotypes

10 The Exorcist (1973)

The Exorcist stands out on this list as the only movie that, despite having its trailer pulled from theaters, still went on to become the year’s highest grossing film.^[2]

A significant factor here is the time period: In a special effects-challenged moviemaking era during which Night of the Living Dead^[3] – a film whose monsters and plot move so slowly that it evokes tears of boredom rather than fright – was considered groundbreaking, The Exorcist was unlike anything audiences had experienced. It was another level of horror.

The movie’s trailer, which features a quick-flash, photo negative-esque juxtaposition between a little girl and the demon that haunts her, was an incredibly powerful preview of the all-possessing experience that awaited moviegoers. Too powerful, in fact; upon screening it, theaters reported people walking out, and even running to the restrooms to throw up.^[4]

The reaction even scared The Exorcist’s director, William Friedkin, who zeroed in on the ghoulish soundtrack by composer Lalo Schifrin as a dealbreaker between passable and puking. Friedkin scrapped the soundtrack and turned to musician Mike Oldfield, who composed new music for the finished film. A victim of a job too well done, Schifrin’s score scared audiences so completely that it got him exorcised from The Exorcist.

9 Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace holds two related yet drastically different distinctions. First, it is arguably the most disappointing movie in cinematic history,^[5] an utter disaster that left fans calling for the heads of both George Lucas and his wretched rabbit-esque creation, Jar Jar Binks.^[6]

Its second accomplishment is, in part, what exacerbated the first: The Phantom Menace was the most popular movie trailer ever, and it’s not even close.

A long, long time ago (circa late 1998), before the advent of YouTube, the only way to watch movie trailers “on demand” was at the theater itself (it’s also worth noting that trailers at theaters were released far earlier than those shown as TV ads, often by months). For force-starved fans, then, catching an early glimpse of the first Star Wars film in 15 years meant buying tickets to films currently playing in the theaters.

Theaters showing such long-forgotten films as Meet Joe Black, The Siege and A Bug’s Life swelled with paying customers . . . for about the first ten minutes. After the Star Wars trailer played, more than half the attendees often got up and left,^[7] a phenomenon that made headlines.

In defense of these pre-film fleers, The Phantom Menace’s trailer is pretty awesome. It basically encapsulated every single decent thing about the terrible two-hour movie – a CGI-sharpened Yoda, Tatooine’s desert landscape, Samuel L. Jackson – into two riveting minutes. The only other good part was watching Qui-Gon die,^[8] albeit not nearly as painfully as he deserved.

8 United 93 (2006)

Five years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Universal Studios released a film reenacting the tragedy of that dark day’s fourth and final hijacked plane, United Flight #93.

The movie depicts the dramatic true saga of how passengers aboard the doomed jetliner, after learning the previous three airplanes had been used as kamikaze missiles, attempted to retake the cockpit from a team of jihadists. Inaction meant certain death; their bravery that day is aptly summed up by passenger Todd Beamer’s final recorded words: “Let’s roll.”^[9]

Though they failed to wrest control of the aircraft, they succeeded in preventing it from reaching its target: either the White House or US Capitol Building in Washington, DC. Instead, the plane nosedived into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, killing everyone on board.

The trailer did what trailers are supposed to do: evoke an emotional reaction. Some blowback for a film about a tragic recent event was inevitable; however, some theaters witnessed both an outcry and literal crying, with patrons reportedly sobbing in their seats. What to do?

Though one theater in Manhattan^[10] unilaterally pulled the trailer, Universal refused to remove it en masse, instead opting to limit its showing to R and PG13-rated films – a reasonable position and rare example of Hollywood showing some spine amid controversy. The idea that a day as monumental as September 11, 2001 would never be depicted on the big screen is denying history for sensitivity’s sake, and five years is far enough removed from the event that neither the trailer nor movie were in poor taste.

7 The Mechanic (2011)

The most entertaining thing ever to happen during an episode of Glee^[11] ended up getting a movie trailer banned from British television.

During a commercial break from the insufferable singalong show, an ad previewing The Mechanic, in which Jason Statham plays a hitman who stages his kills to seem like accidents or suicides, exploded onto the screen. Or, rather, the head of one of Statham’s victims^[12] did. How’s that for a choir intermission?

The trailer also includes a scene where Statham emerges from underwater to jam a spear through someone’s leg, though a Glee cast member’s larynx would have been a more deserving target. A fiery bus explosion also made the lighthearted audience’s mood decidedly less gleeful.

England’s Advertising Standards Agency banned the trailer from the country’s airwaves after complaints from just 13 viewers, a figure that confirms (1) the organization’s spinelessness and (2) that at least 13 Brits have very poor taste in television. Where’s a good mechanic when you need one?

6 The Watch (2012)

Perhaps the only time George Zimmerman – the alleged woman-beating,^[13] road raging^[14] and of course trigger-happy^[15] Sunshine State vigilante who was a true #FloridaMan^[16] before it trended on Twitter—has ever been of service to others (with the exception of mandated community service) was when he saved Florida moviegoers from previews for a dumpster fire of a comedy called The Watch.

He did this merely by being himself. He gave the movie’s original title, Neighborhood Watch, a bad name by blowing away a black teenage boy armed with a seemingly menacing bag of Skittles and bottle of iced tea.

The controversy that transpired largely split along political and racial lines. Some eyewitnesses said the youth, Trayvon Martin, was on top of Zimmerman and pummeling him,^[17] and that the shooting was therefore an act of self-defense. Others contended that Zimmerman had no reason^[18] to follow and ultimately confront the teenager other than the color of his skin. The phrase “Walking While Black” made headlines across the country.

One thing everyone agreed on: The Watch was unwatchable, earning an ungodly 17% on Rotten Tomatoes^[19] despite the star-studded cast of Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn and Jonah Hill playing basically the same characters they play in every movie. The film’s producers promptly removed all trailers and posters for the then-named Neighborhood Watch from Florida theaters, and eventually went a step further in renaming the film.

10 Banned Controversial Album Covers

5 Gangster Squad (2013)

Some controversial movie trailers are simply victims of bad timing. The 2013 film Gangster Squad portrays the true story of the Los Angeles Police Department’s battle to suppress organized crime during the mob’s 1940s heyday. Of note, its trailer shows a group of gangsters indiscriminately shooting up a movie theater with machine guns.

Unfortunately, one of the movies Gangster Squad’s trailer frequently preceded was The Dark Knight Rises. And on July 20, 2012, a sicko ruined both Dark Knights and movie theaters for a lot of people.

In Aurora, Colorado, 24-year-old James Eagan Holmes^[20] strode into a packed showing of The Dark Knight Rises wearing a gas mask and body armor. Strapped with multiple firearms, Holmes proceeded to kill 12 and wound another 70. He was later arrested and found guilty of multiple counts of murder and attempted murder.

The incident affected not only Gangster Squad’s trailer, which was promptly pulled^[21] from screenings of The Dark Knight Rises, but ultimately the movie itself. Producers decided to postpone the movie’s release^[22] for reshoots, no pun intended, leaving the suddenly unpalatable movie theater scene on the cutting room floor.

4 Hereditary (2015)

“Mommy, why is that nice man on fire?”

In 2015, parents took their young children to a matinee showing of Peter Rabbit in Perth, Australia. But before bunnies and cuddly woodland creatures graced the big screen, a projectionist who is either really funny or really stupid played a trailer for Hereditary, a horror film about a family matriarch who wreaks havoc from beyond the grave.

Being a fly on that theater wall must have been highly entertaining. Like many horror films, the trailer for Hereditary is a slow build, though its opening funeral scene certainly must have given parents pause. Still – and this is an hysterically terrific coincidence – one of the movie’s characters is a miniature figurines aficionado, which likely lulled mom and dad into thinking something more age appropriate was about to transpire. (“Look daddy – a dollhouse!”)

Then we get a close-up of grandma’s corpse and a little girl cutting off a bird’s head with scissors – though in the film’s defense the child did not run with them beforehand. Phew! You can let go of those pearls, Karen.

The budding ornithologist then asks her mom when she’s going to die, a lovely post-movie conversation starter. Then a teenage boy gets his head bashed into his desk at school and a guy gets set on fire in the living room.

Covering their children’s eyes and ears wasn’t enough in this case; the trailer left parents scooping up their kiddies and fleeing for the exits.^[23] However, as a parent with a four-year-old, I’ve suffered through Peter Rabbit and can report that they didn’t miss much.

3 I Feel Pretty (2018)

And the award for Best Dramatic Actor at a Movie Theater goes to . . . Mike Mitchell,^[24] an overly protective father from British Columbia who heroically rescued children from a two-minute trailer for a lighthearted rom-com.

Mitchell, apparently the Royal Canadian Mounties version of the PC Police, took his nine-year-old daughter to a Saturday afternoon showing of PG-rated The Miracle Season. I have no idea what that film is about, but it sure as hell isn’t about the 2017 Houston Astros, because cheating isn’t a miracle.

Anyway, the theater made the cancel culture mistake of showing a trailer for I Feel Pretty, which was rated PG-13. Among other apparent no-nos, the trailer shows lead character Amy Schumer drinking and dancing in a wet tee shirt that isn’t at all revealing. Mitchell later said that he and his wife “both leaned back in the seats and looked past each other with our jaws dropped going, ‘Do we cover her eyes?’”

Instead of parentally guiding his child, Mitchell guided himself to the theater’s manager. He found the trailer for the comedy too risqué – notable because the film was neither risqué nor . . . funny. You have to admit it though, watching Amy Schumer trying to act her way through a comedy does, at least, give one a sense of schadenfreude. (A sequel, I Feel Mediocre, is currently in the works.)

We all know the ending here: the movie theater chain removed the trailer for I Feel Pretty from all showings of The Miracle Season, single-handedly salvaging our children’s cherished innocence.

2 The Nun (2018)

A preview clip for the 2018 horror film The Nun has an interesting distinction: It’s the shortest movie trailer ever banned.

In fact, the spot is so short that calling it a trailer is a stretch. Designed to automatically play before certain YouTube videos, the six-second clip is both deceptive and pants-pissingly startling – a factor that led to its banishment mere days after it launched.

The snippet’s first visual is a computer volume icon decreasing, leading viewers to believe the ad will be silent. Suddenly, the film’s title character – a possessed nun – lunges at viewers while roaring at full volume. The electronic equivalent of someone jumping out of a closet and screaming “Boo!”, the spot is more flinch-inducing than horrifying.

Not surprisingly, a lot of people didn’t appreciate it. Thousands took to Twitter^[25] (color me surprised) to express displeasure with the ad, citing everything from its ability to traumatize children to being dangerous to those with heart issues. A “jumpscare” warning went viral, generating more than 100,000 retweets.

But unlike the clergy, who could really use a personnel and PR makeover, in the entertainment business all publicity is good publicity. Despite frighteningly poor reviews,^[26] The Nun went on to gross $365 million internationally from a budget of just $23 million. That’ll buy a lot of sacramental wine and adult diapers.

1 The Happytime Murders (2018)

Muppets swearing, killing and screwing? Yes please.

An awful movie with a terrific tagline – “No Sesame, All Street” – The Happytime Murders billed itself as “the way muppets act when the kiddies leave the room.” Early in the trailer, girl Ghostbuster and Ms. Piggy lookalike Melissa McCarthy gets the ball rolling by telling a messed up muppet that she wishes she “had a dick for you to suck.” Later, she sits around with gun-toting puppet gangstas snorting ecstasy. The trailer’s climax is a muppet, well, climaxing,^[27] a silly-string spewing phenomenon representing the best non-human sex scene since Team America: World Police.^[28]

The trailer accomplished two things. First, like everything else starring Melissa McCarthy, it made seeing the film unnecessary because anything remotely funny was in the preview. It’s really hard to make muppets behaving badly unfunny, but The Happytime Murders manages.^[29]

Second, it pissed off the makers of Sesame Street something fierce. Citing social media posts conflating the children’s TV series with the decidedly adult movie, Sesame Workshop sued the film’s producers^[30] for “devastating and irreparable injury.” Admirably, the movie’s producers not only held firm but added insult to injury, incorporating “From the studio that was sued by Sesame Street . . . ” to some versions of the trailer.

10 Disney Characters With Controversial Histories

About The Author: Christopher Dale (@ChrisDaleWriter) writes on politics, society and sobriety issues. His work has appeared in Daily Beast, NY Daily News, NY Post and Parents.com, among other outlets.

Effective advertising in current times is something that can reach out and grab your attention. Billboards have been around for over 100 years capturing the attention of drivers and citizens looming over the sides of businesses and roads. This list contains some billboards that have pushed grabbing the public’s attention to a whole new level. The controversies behind the billboards shown here range from too risqué and sexual to downright over exaggeration.

See Also: 10 Advertising Lies We’ve All Been Fed

10 Funeral Billboards

In a seemingly creative way to attempt to create their own customers, Bergemann & Son Funeral Services has caught a lot of backlash for their billboard in a Berlin subway station. People that see the advertisement have been both humored and disgusted by the tongue-in-cheek placement of the advertisement. The ad itself is very simplistic with the phrase “Come a little closer” in black lettering on a plan white background. The genius and controversy of the billboard comes from the fact that it is positioned behind the tracks of the subway. Many feel the billboard to be too morbid and disturbing because of its subliminally suicidal message. Likewise, in a billboard promoting Thomas Dobies Funeral Home, the phrase “You’ve always said you wouldn’t be caught dead in that dress” is positioned above the phrase “You’d better tell them now.” Many believe this advertisement to be tasteless and don’t find much humor in joking about death. Whether or not the billboards have been detrimental to the companies’ reputation, one has to admit that they have been extremely successful in getting the companies’ names out there.^[1]

9 Rainy Roads Billboard

Most of us have encountered the jerks on the road that think it’s still okay to continue driving 90mph in a heavy rain as if the skies were totally clear. The government in Papakura, New Zealand apparently had enough of the high amount of accidents that were reported during stormy weather and decided the best way to raise awareness would be to erect a shockingly gruesome billboard on the side of the road. In clear skies, the billboard depicts the picture of a normal little boy with the phrase “Rain changes everything. Please drive to the conditions”. In rainy weather however, the billboard is designed to change the boys picture by adding blood that streams out of his noses, eyes, and ears. The billboard has proven pretty effective by shocking drivers into going slower during storms. While the advertisement is incredibly creative, it seems to me that even though lives are saved as drivers slow down, the sheer distraction of the billboard itself may lead to just as many people dying by taking their eyes off the road to gawk at it.^[2]

8 Playstation

A billboard was put up in Holland to promote Sony’s release of a new white Playstation console, and many people have complained that it is controversially racial. The billboard depicts a clearly dominant white women holding onto the face of a black woman almost hidden by the black background. The phrase “Playstation Portable White is coming” is displayed next to the dramatic scene. Sony claimed to have used the racial depiction to try and make a strong distinction between the black and white models of the Playstation. Most people who saw the billboard were not amused or convinced that their tactics were unintentionally racial. Sony reported that they had no intention of running the ad in the United States, but the Dutch citizens were no less shocked by the implications of the ad than the Americans were who saw it. Due to the incredible backlash Sony received for the billboard, they quickly took it down in response to public outcry.^[3]

7 Atheist Billboards

In an attempt to combat the growing amount of religious advertisements popping up, the atheists of America have responded by taking full advantage of their right to freedom of speech and religion. With billboards stating “Hell no we’re not giving up pizza for Lent,” “There is no God. Don’t believe everything you hear,” and “Slaves, obey your masters,” many people both religious and non-religious have found controversy in the ways they are delivering their messages. Atheist organizations such as the American Atheists and Mid Ohio Atheists have been posting billboards to gain support for their cause. Citizens in the community find the billboards much too blunt and offensive for their liking. While the right to express their opinions is respected, the controversy of messages on the billboards themselves matches the controversy of the subject that they represent.^[4]

6 Religious Billboards

Many pro-religion groups were not ready to take the attacks from the above atheist billboards lying down. In rebuttal, they also host their own array of controversial billboards fighting in the ideological tug o’ war. In a billboard sponsored by the group Answers in Genesis, a small boy is depicted aiming a gun next to the phrase “If God doesn’t matter to him, do you?” This has sparked a lot of controversy over its implications that atheists are violent or dangerous. The group has gotten a lot of criticism for the billboards because many think such a drastic rebuttal was unnecessary to get their point across. Many pro-religious groups also find fault with the billboard feeling that it’s giving off the wrong message by attacking atheists rather than supporting Christianity.^[5]

5 9/11 Voting billboards

While using extreme tactics to get voters attention and support are not new to the political race, using the deaths over 2,000 Americans to do so has caused huge uproar from the public. The billboard on the top could be found in Florida, built by a staunch republican known as Mike Meehan. It depicts an image of the twin towers surrounded by smoke next to the phrase “Please Don’t Vote for A Democrat.” People who see this controversial billboard are outraged at Meehan’s audacity to use such an event to support his political cause. Meehan has stated that he holds “the entire Democratic Party responsible for the attacks on 9/11” (because we all know that is a completely rational statement to make). Furthermore he hoped the billboard would be able to grab the attention of the public and government to put more effort into the “war on terrorism.” Meehan is fully aware that his ads offends people and sees this as a good thing because it helps get his word out to build support.

The other billboard, built by the group Concerned Citizens for a Better America in Seattle Washington, reminds citizens to “remember September 11, 2011” when they cast their vote. This has also stirred up a lot of controversy for bringing back the tragic memories of the victims for political purposes and person gains. While the public isn’t against memorializing the attacks, they do see billboards like these as blatant insults to everyone affected on that day.^[6]

4Calvin Klein

Much like American Apparel, the clothing line Calvin Klein is no stranger to using overly sexualized and risqué billboards to promote their brand. With most of their billboards being filled with sexual messages and innuendos, the three pictured above definitely take the cake for the most controversial. The first billboard in Manhattan depicts a model in a bra and underwear with her hands out in front of her and the letters “ck” off to the right of her hip. While at first glance this may not seem more controversial than any of their other ads, but some report the F-word is subliminally hidden in the picture. Using the table in the background as the F, her curved underwear as the U, and the CK on her side, it’s easy to see how this can be mistaken as a possibly intentional insertion.

Calvin Klein denies that any sort of message was intentionally placed in the ad, yet as more people begin to see it, the more controversial the billboard becomes. The next picture is controversial not only for being sexualized, but also for the amount of skin shown on the male model’s butt. The billboard takes the phrase “kiss my butt” to a new level, which has left many thinking that the ad goes a bit too far.

If Calvin Klein is a clothing line, why are the models wearing basically no clothing? Lastly, the third billboard depicts four scantily clad people lying around a couch with a woman laying on top of a man with his head on another man’s lap that is graphically kissing the girl and another lone ranger with his pants basically off doing his own thing on the floor. Some feel this ad has crossed the line between promiscuous advertising and borderline pornography. This SoHo “foursome”, as some have deemed it, has received a lot of criticism from citizens, though its quite unlikely this will be enough to deter Calvin Klein from continuing their sexually explicit advertising.^[7]

3 Bree Olson

Looking at these two billboards, it seems pretty obvious why many that see them find them to be quite controversial. Former porn star and Charlie Sheen’s ex-girlfriend, Bree Olson, posted the advertisements in an attempt to promote her new “dating” site, arrangementfinders.com. While many of these controversial billboards are completely legal under the First Amendment, this doesn’t stop them from making those who see them a little uncomfortable by their content. Recently, billboards boasting the phrases, “Need a summer job? Date a sugar daddy” and “Because the best job is a b**w job” have been popping all across America bringing a wave of criticism with them.

One posting of the “Because the best job is a b**w job” billboard, was quickly taken down in Chicago after it received many complaints of disgust from surrounding hotels and businesses. This has not seemed to deter Bree Olson as she continues to put up these billboards to promote her site that hooks up rich men with not-so-rich (or proud) women.^[8]

2 PETA Billboards

PETA is no stranger to marketing billboards that definitely think outside of the box when it comes to getting their point across for animal rights. However, some of their recent billboards are under fire for pushing their message a little too far. The first billboard was posted in New Jersey allegedly linking autism to the consumption of milk in a billboard designed striking similar to that of the “Got milk?” campaign. This was met with complete outrage in the autistic community for the outlandish claims that simply stopping the consumption of cow’s milk could fix the disorder. The studies PETA is referring to come out of the University of Rome, yet there was no actual conclusive evidence linking autism and milk consumption in any way. In spite of this, PETA still shamelessly continues their support of the link even providing three stories of success by people on their website. Their next billboard feature a picture of Tiger Woods standing next to the statement “too much sex can be a bad thing…..for little tigers too. Help keep your cats (and dogs) out of trouble. Always spay or neuter.”

Unlike the false claims made by the autism billboards, the premise of his billboard is factual, but some feel the manner in which it was presented was a bit too scandalous for their liking. As a run off of the Tiger Woods affair scandal, PETA jumped at the opportunity to not only exploit and bring attention to Woods’s actions, but support their cause in a very tongue-in-cheek manner. Woods didn’t approve the billboard, nor does he have any affiliation with PETA, only fueling the controversial fire.

While standing proud for just a short time in Jacksonville, PETA’s next billboard entitled “Save the whales. Lose the blubber: Go vegetarian” was raising eyebrows and turning the heads of many individuals. With obesity on the rise in America, PETA thought they’d take a whack at this issue by urging the overweight people to go vegetarian in order to lose the extra pounds. Many people in the community felt this was completely the wrong way to go about it. Citizens complained that the billboard was severely offensive to overweight people and women in the community as well. In response to the harsh backlash they received for the billboard, PETA quickly took it down only to replace it with a new and slightly less frank billboard boasting the phrase, “GONE: Just like all the pounds lost by people who go vegetarian.”^[9]

1 Black abortion

When you think of endangered species, what comes to mind? Black rhinos? Tigers? Polar Bears? How about black children? That’s right, I said it, black children. Or at least that’s the message that several abortion groups are trying to highlight in their various billboards depicting black children as an endangered species and stating that the womb is the most dangerous place for them to be. The groups have posted the controversial billboards in many places around the south to bring attention to the alarming rate of African American women that are having abortions. It’s quite obvious why these billboards can be taken as a bit controversial. Many feel the comparison of black children to animals like the Black Rhino is a bit over exaggerated to say the least.

Not only does the public feel the billboards are offensive, but even some anti-abortion groups as well. Many have stated they think the campaign is racist and that if the group is going to support anti-abortion laws, they should do it for all races and not just one. Despite the controversial statements, most of the billboards remain displayed.^[10]

About The Author: Shelby is an undergraduate at Arizona State University studying psychology and medicinal biochemistry. She is constantly fascinated by the mysteries of the world around her. She hopes to go on to medical school once she graduates to be able to search for and solve these mysteries.

Students across the globe often gripe about their homework assignments. Those complaints frequently fall on deaf ears because parents expect teachers to guide the intellectual and ethical development of their children. Sometimes, that takes work. And, let’s face it, parents know that kids are often just lazy.

But sometimes, the students have a point. Some teachers have asked their young scholars—from elementary school to college—to complete assignments that may be considered controversial and unethical. And when word got out, bam!

The public firestorm led to debates that put the embattled teachers smack-dab in the middle of those controversies in ways they never expected. Feelings were hurt, jobs were on the line, and content was created for an intriguing list.

10 Teachers Who Completely Lost Their Minds

10 Beer Brewing Assignment

Although the legal drinking age in the United States is 21, underage consumption of alcohol is widespread. Most minors who drink alcohol prefer to guzzle down cheap booze with little regard to how it was created. So, a biology teacher at Ralston Valley High School in Colorado decided to offer his students some insight into the process.

For this homework assignment, students brewed beer inside the classroom and were encouraged to learn more about the fermentation process outside of school hours. This included how wine, champagne, and vodka are made. For extra credit, students were urged to tour the nearby Coors Brewery, which allows men and women who are at least 18 years old to visit without adult supervision.

This assignment was met with resistance by a few hesitant parents. They feared that exposing underage students to alcohol would send a conflicting message while offering little educational value. One parent was afraid that such an assignment might spark her daughter’s interest in the violent alcoholism that ran in her family.^[1]

The Jefferson County School District, which controls Ralston Valley High School, was quick to offer an explanation for the assignment. They stated:

The teaching of fermentation, or anaerobic respiration, is a Colorado standard taught in biology classes. Teachers make choices in designing the lesson plans which help students meet those standards. While we value the efforts our teachers make to inspire learning in our students, we will be reviewing the assignment in question.

9 Serial Killer Assignment

When a teacher asked his ninth-grade students to do a comprehensive report on serial killers, he may not have considered the madness he would spawn. At Northern Bay College’s Goldsworthy Campus in Corio, Australia—which is also a high school—the teacher provided the students in his forensic psychology class with a long list of potential projects related to serial killers.

Examples included: Create a cartoon illustrating how a serial killer would murder someone, write a poem about a serial killer, put together a children’s book that would teach children about serial killers, make up a serial killer board game, and draw a floor plan of a serial killer’s dream house.

Not surprisingly, the assignment was met with a flood of criticism. Outraged parents demanded that it be discarded, and their voices were heard. The high school principal immediately withdrew the assignment and banned it permanently from the curriculum.^[2]

Why would such a gruesome assignment appear in a high school classroom, and what educational value would it provide? Scott Bonn, assistant professor of sociology at Drew University and a serial killer expert, explained:

This incident demonstrates just how deeply serial killers have penetrated the public consciousness and popular culture. [ . . . ] [This is illustrated by] the tremendous financial successes of the Showtime series Dexter and the book and film franchise based on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

8 Slavery And Mathematics Assignment

In the United States, slavery is a sensitive topic. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that parents, community leaders, and even the NAACP became involved when a controversial homework assignment that combined slavery and math was handed out to third graders.

At Beaver Ridge Elementary School in Norcross, Georgia, two teachers distributed to four of the school’s third-grade classrooms an assignment that asked these types of questions: “If Frederick got two beatings per day, how many beatings did he get in one week?” and “Each tree had 56 oranges. If eight slaves pick them equally, then how much would each slave pick?”^[3]

When the young students brought the assignment home to their parents, some awkward conversations ensued. As one parent stated, “Now my son is asking questions about slaves and beatings, and I have to explain all that to him. I felt he wasn’t ready for that.”

Some parents even considered transferring their children to another school. Eventually, these parents contacted the school’s principal and even reached out to the local and national media to express their outrage. With this exposure, the NAACP became involved, eventually calling for the termination of all teachers involved with the assignment.

While it was difficult for the principal to defend the assignment, he did his best to explain the thought behind its creation. He stated that the math teacher and social studies teacher were doing their best to create cross-curriculum assignments that helped students to better understand concepts.

To make the situation even more awkward, one objective of Beaver Ridge’s improvement plan for 2011–12 included “increasing academic performances in math” for African-American students. The teachers involved did receive a disciplinary hearing and underwent a human resource investigation that ultimately led to the resignation of one teacher.

7 Nazi Homework Assignment

As part of the language arts curriculum, high school students are often tasked with writing a persuasive essay. This includes taking a stance on a subject and convincing readers that this point of view is valid. Although it’s common for students to be asked to pick one side of a contentious subject, a few topics are considered too controversial for the classroom environment.

In 2013, a high school teacher in Albany, New York, decided to tread on this inappropriate line. She assigned her students a persuasive writing essay with the prompt: “You must argue that Jews are evil and use solid rationale from government propaganda to convince me of your loyalty to the Third Reich!”^[4]

It isn’t surprising that over one-third of the students refused to complete the assignment. They argued that the topic was not debatable and that no right could be found in the Nazi regime’s actions.

Almost immediately, word spread across the city about the controversial assignment. Fingers pointed at the teacher who created the assignment as well as her boss, Albany Superintendent Marguerite Vanden Wyngaard.

Wyngaard eventually spoke to the media at a news conference held at the United Jewish Federation. Surrounded by school board officials and leaders from Jewish organizations, Wyngaard stated, “I would like to apologize to our families. I don’t believe there was malice or intent to cause any sensitivities to our families of Jewish faith.”

To strengthen their message, the school board invited the Anti-Defamation League to run sensitivity programs at the school.

6 September 11 Assignment

Continuing with the English composition theme, it’s common for language arts teachers to ask their students to write from the perspective of someone different from themselves. In 2013, a teacher at Fairview Junior High in Alvin, Texas, did just this but pushed the envelope a little too far in most people’s eyes.

Specifically, the teacher asked her students to pretend they were trapped in one of the towers or planes involved in the September 11, 2001, tragedy. Furthermore, she instructed her middle school students to write a letter to an imagined loved one or friend as they faced death.

Parents of the students were understandably upset when they found out about the assignment. They claimed the teacher had gone too far by requiring their children to write what amounted to a 9/11 suicide note.

The school district responded, “We sincerely apologize to any of our families that found this activity to be insensitive. As educators, we strive to meet the individual needs of our students both instructionally and emotionally while maintaining a high level of sensitivity.”^[5]

Although the 9/11 attacks are a painful subject among all ages, some in the media attributed the assignment’s controversial nature to the youth of the students. Most were 12 to 13 years old.

Top 10 Reasons School Can Be Harmful For Mental Health

5 Native American Assignment

When math teacher Richard Vesbach handed out an algebra puzzle assignment to his high school class, there was no controversy at first. The beginning of the puzzle asked harmlessly enough, “What happened after Chief Short Cake died?” But once the problems were solved, the answer to this question caused quite the stir among a few parents in Minocqua, Wisconsin.^[6]

After dinner that night, one of Vesbach’s students showed the assignment to his mother. He asked her to explain the joke, specifically the punch line: “Squawburyshortcake.”

Outraged at what she saw, the mother, who was a member of the Lac du Flambeau tribe, posted an image of the assignment on her social media page. It was quickly passed around the community and became a hot topic at the school, which had a 22 percent Native American population.

Although the term “squaw” refers to “woman” in Native American Algonquian languages, the word has evolved into a description more sexually charged. It is often used to demean Native American women and equate them to nothing more than sexual objects to be desired by men.

Once word got around, the teacher was quick to be contrite. He claimed that the assignment had come from a workbook sitting around his classroom since the 1980s. He offered to be sent home for a day without pay and take full responsibility for his actions. Furthermore, he stated that it was never his intention to offend the Native American population. The school was satisfied with this self-imposed punishment.

4 Stomping On Jesus Assignment

All our examples so far have centered around the introduction of a controversial topic to young students who might not be prepared for the conversation. But once young adults reach college or university age, many expect them to be able to handle more adult themes.

So, is it possible for a college professor to create a controversial assignment for his or her class? Let’s study the case of Florida Atlantic University professor Deandre Poole.^[7]

In Poole’s Intercultural Communications class, students were told to listen carefully to the instructions of the teacher. Poole read from a lesson book that stated:

Have the students write the name JESUS in big letters on a piece of paper. Ask the students to stand up and put the paper on the floor in front of them with the name facing up. Ask the students to think about it for a moment. After a brief period of silence, instruct them to step on the paper. Most will hesitate. Ask why they can’t step on the paper. Discuss the importance of symbols in culture.

Although the lesson was meant to be jarring, many students in Poole’s class picked up the piece of paper, put it on their desk, and refused to participate in any further discussion. They were already highly offended by even being asked to step on Jesus’s name. As one student stated, “I’m not going to sit in a class having my religious rights desecrated. I truly see this as being punished.”

Eventually, Noemi Marin, the university’s director of communication and media studies, offered her opinion on the subject. She said, “As with any academic lesson, the exercise was meant to encourage students to view issues from many perspectives. While at times the topics discussed may be sensitive, a university environment is a venue for such dialogue and debate.”

Although the university did apologize for the professor’s actions, it didn’t satisfy some people. Then-Florida Governor Rick Scott called for an investigation into why students were being asked to compromise their beliefs. In the end, the professor was allowed to keep his job.

3 Sex Toy Assignment

At Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, Professor John Michael Bailey’s human sexuality course was one of the most popular classes. The course was well-known for offering unique experiences to students, including a question-and-answer period with a group of swingers or a panel with convicted sex offenders. But in 2011, one after-class event may have gone too far.

In this assignment, students were invited back to the classroom that evening to watch a naked woman “perform” on herself with sex toys. The woman’s “highlight of the night”: Using a sex toy attached to a reciprocating saw, an act that led to a lot of wide eyes that evening.

Earlier in the week, students were warned that the act would be graphic. Those who chose not to attend were not penalized for their decision. However, the students who attended were not the ones who protested the assignment.

Instead, the university administration stepped in with complaints of their own. The president of the university said, “I simply do not believe this was appropriate, necessary, or in keeping with Northwestern University’s academic mission.”

For his part, the class professor was torn, unsure of where blame, if any, should be laid. He stated:

Do I have any regrets? It is mostly too early to say. I certainly have no regrets concerning Northwestern students, who have demonstrated that they are open-minded grown-ups rather than fragile children. I have not enjoyed the press because I have assumed that reporters will sensationalize what happened and will not provide my side.

I suspect that my dean is not enjoying this publicity, and I do not like displeasing my dean. To the extent that this event provokes a discussion of my reasoning above, I welcome it. I expect many people to disagree with me. Thoughtful discussion of controversial topics is a cornerstone of learning.^[8]

2 Public Killing Of A Chicken Assignment

There have always been artists who are more than willing to walk a controversial line. They often use the idea of “artistic freedom and expression” to justify their actions or creations. In spring 2013, a student at the Alberta College of Art and Design in Canada did just that after his artistic performance critiquing food production created outrage across the campus and country.

The performance, which was part of a class assignment, went as follows: The male student walked into the school cafeteria with a live chicken in his hands. He cooed and comforted the chicken before suddenly slitting the bird’s throat, leaving blood to pour over the floor. If that wasn’t enough, the student plucked the chicken’s feathers and stuffed its corpse into a large cooking pot.^[9]

Understandably, many students were upset, having been caught off guard by the violent act. They were also unwilling to accept the student’s justification that the stunt showcased the gap in our understanding of how food arrives on people’s plates.

Surprisingly, the student escaped much of the criticism. Instead, fingers were pointed at his professor, Gordon Ferguson, for signing off on such a horrific act. Ferguson had been a well-respected instructor in the college’s sculpture department for 32 years.

Although it isn’t clear if Ferguson supported the execution, he knew about the student’s interest in performing it beforehand. Ferguson was suspended during an investigation, but he was eventually reinstated. The college offered counseling to those in attendance. The incident was also discussed at a public symposium the following year.

1 Obama Assignment

This one is not so much an assignment as a class requirement. In fall 2012, Sharon Sweet, an associate professor of mathematics at Brevard Community College in Florida, forced her students to sign pledges that they would vote for Barack Obama in the upcoming presidential election.^[10]

After being handed a sheet of paper that read “I pledge to vote for President Obama and Democrats up and down the ticket,” each student was asked to sign his or her name at the bottom. It doesn’t take a college graduate to understand that pushing one’s political beliefs on a group of people who didn’t ask for it might be a bad idea.

As soon as word got around about the professor’s action, Brevard Community College fired Sweet. They stated that her undoing was not her political leanings but instead her creation of a hostile environment for students. Many feared that their grades would be affected if they did not sign the pledge.

Sweet was also accused of misrepresenting her intentions. At the time, she claimed that she was registering voters at the community college and that the pledge was simply a “statistical analysis.” It was discovered that Sweet had provided bookmarks from the GottaVote website to her students. The site was funded by the Obama campaign and sought to target young voters.

As a Brevard Community College spokesperson said, “The college has specific policies that address the political activities of faculty and staff, which state that no college employee shall solicit support for a political candidate during regular college work hours or on college property.”

10 Of The Most Unusual Schools In The World

About The Author: Cod Zumwalt writes lists while surrounded by cats and the Tennessee hills.

Stereotypes have been around for as long as man and, for the most part, they aren’t negative. There are plenty of stereotypes about people, places, and things that are complementary—even if they aren’t true.

10 Fascinating Origins Of Pop Culture Stereotypes

Then there are the negative stereotypes which can be pretty nasty. For most negative stereotypes, there is about 0.01% of truth mixed into supposition, prejudice, bigotry, and just plain lies.

Here are ten of the most controversial.

10The Dumb Blonde

It’s a fairly common belief that blondes aren’t smart, and who hasn’t said they were having “a blonde moment” after doing something particularly foolish? The ditzy blonde has been a trope of television and film for decades.

The Origin: The notion that blondes are dumb comes from a play called Les Curiosités de la Foire,^[1] which was based on Rosalie Duthé, a courtier who was blonde, stupid, and sexually available. That play first premiered in 1775, so the stereotype has been around for a while.

The Reality: Blonde hair is the result of a mutation, which has been around for about 10,000 years. Studies have shown that hair color and intellect aren’t related, and in some, it was found that the median IQ for blonde women was higher than women with different hair colors.^[2]

Fun Fact: There are plenty of blonde women who prove this stereotype false, including NASA Astronaut Karen Nyberg, Professor Lisa Randall of MIT, J.K. Rowling, Meryl Streep, and many more.

9 Asians Can’t Drive

When Asiana Airlines Flight 214 crashed in San Francisco in 2013, two people died, and scores more were injured, but it wasn’t long before the “Asians Can’t Drive” stereotype was running rampant on Twitter. “Of course the Korean plane crashed. Asians can’t drive, what makes them think they can fly a plane,” and similar comments were common after the accident.^[3]

The Origin: The precise origin of the stereotype is unknown, though it is pervasive, and has an Urban Dictionary page devoted to it.^[4] It likely rose from seeing Asian immigrants driving in the United States, as many were driving for the first time. As a result, the stereotype was less about Asian drivers than it was about new drivers.

The Reality: Ironically, the opposite is true when it comes to Asian drivers. There are fewer fatal crashes in East Asian countries when compared to the United States. The stereotype is also contrary to the belief that Asians are good at everything. The meme, “Difficulty Level: Asian” is popular on Tumblr, where it showcases examples of Asian people accomplishing incredible feats.^[5]

Fun Fact: According to the CDC, Asians are statistically better drivers than other populations in the United States, with female Asian drivers rating the highest in terms of safety.^[6] White, non-Hispanics account for the highest rate in deadly crashes.

8 Irish People = Potato-Eaters

There are several stereotypes about Irish people by the rest of the world, but the most common concerns their supposed fondness for potatoes.

The Origin: When it comes to potatoes, Ireland is well known as a lover of the crop, going back to the late 16th century. Potatoes became a staple crop, but when the Great Famine hit the country in the 1840s, this led to a mass exodus. More than a million people left Ireland during this time. Because of the crop’s failure, especially in 1847, a surge of unwelcome Irish immigrants were negatively associated with the potato.^[7]

The Reality: While it is true that Irish people of the 18th and 19th centuries required potatoes as their primary source of sustenance,^[8] the famine of the 1840s changed this. Modern Ireland enjoys potatoes as much as the next country, but the nation’s economy isn’t tied to its success as it was in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Irish agricultural industry of the 21st century relies on a diverse selection of crops, including sugar beets and barley.^[9] Potatoes come in third, but in far less tonnage than the previous two.

Fun Fact: The country that consumes the most potatoes is China,^[10] not Ireland. Ireland is ranked as the 59th of 158 countries in terms of potato consumption.^[10]

7The French Are Cowards

There’s a stereotype that France is unwilling to fight in wars, and would rather surrender than fight. This belief is rooted in a misunderstanding of French involvement in recent conflicts, and it remains pervasive throughout the American military even though the U.S. and France are allies.

The Origin: France wasn’t thought of as a war-hating country until recently. A common misconception of their actions in WWII suggested the country didn’t put up a fight when the German Army crossed the Ardennes. France surrendered to Hitler in 1940 following an intense battle,^[11] which has helped reinforce the belief that France would rather surrender than fight.

The Reality: For most of France’s history, the country stood as one of the mightiest militaries in the world. Before the French Revolution, French was the international language of trade and business, much like English is today. It wasn’t until the years following the Revolution that France succumbed to numerous military defeats. Still, the country always put up a fight, never waving the white flag at the first onset of hostilities. The defense of Paris cost France 1.3 million dead—there was no surrender until all was lost.^[12]

Fun Fact: France provided support to the American colonists during the Revolutionary War, and were instrumental in helping to defeat King George III. In the 20th & 21st-centuries, France helped defeat the Kaiser, Hitler, and the nation continues to support international conflicts around the world with its technologically advanced and well-trained military.

6 Men Are Better Workers Than Women

Women have been fighting against gender stereotypes since the dawn of humanity when the hunter/gatherer culture first began. While there have been improvements in most countries where women’s rights are concerned, the belief that men are better workers remains in most industries throughout the world.^[13]

The Origin: All cultures throughout history have had gender roles of different types, but the modern stereotype of women being less capable than men has manifested in unequal pay, fewer promotions, and less opportunity for women in the workplace.

The Reality: Studies have consistently demonstrated two things: men and women are capable of performing the same tasks from changing a lightbulb to running a country, and women are often more productive than their male counterparts.^[14] One study found that women were 10% more productive than men in the workplace.^[15]

Fun Fact: One stereotype about women is that they are better at multitasking than men, but it turns out, that isn’t true. A study by PLOS One found that women aren’t better at multitasking than men; they just do more work in less time, so it appears that way.^[16]

5Black People Love Fried Chicken & Watermelon

Fried chicken and black people have been negatively associated with one another for more than a century. The dish was brought to the States by Scotts and West African slaves, who added their blend of seasoning, which became a prominent feature of southern fried chicken made by Slaves throughout the 19th century.

The Origin: The negative association between African Americans and fried chicken goes back to the 1915 film Birth of a Nation. Claire Schmidt of the University of Missouri wrote on the film’s role in creating the negative correlation:

“[A] group of actors portraying shiftless black elected officials acting rowdy and crudely in a legislative hall…And one of them was very ostentatiously eating fried chicken. That image really solidified the way white people thought of black people and fried chicken.”^[17]

In addition to fried chicken, African Americans have been associated with watermelon as a traditional slave food. This was reflected in the song “The Ice Cream Man” from 1916, which was initially titled, “Nigger Love A Watermelon Ha! Ha! Ha!”^[18]

The Reality: Everyone loves fried chicken and watermelon. There isn’t a racial requirement to enjoying it, which was clear when masses of people of all races flocked to and fought for a Popeyes fried chicken sandwich in 2019.^[19]

Fun Fact: According to the National Chicken Council, African Americans make up 16.3% of U.S. chicken consumption while Hispanics are higher at 18.3%.^[20]

4Jews Are Cheap

The belief that Jews are cheap has been around since the first days of Christianity. Since then, it has permeated every culture that has included Jews for thousands of years. The stereotype was used by Nazi propagandists who scapegoated the German Jewish population in the 1930s, and it remains a well-known stereotype to this day.^[21]

The Origin: The belief that Jews will do anything for a buck comes from the story of the Last Supper. About 2,000 years ago, Judas Iscariot was paid thirty shekels for betraying Jesus to the Romans, resulting in his capture and crucifixion. From that point on, Jews were negatively associated with money and finances.^[22]

The Reality: Whether the Biblical account of the Last Supper was true or not, the actions of a single man two millennia ago have no bearing on people today. Some Jews are good with money, and some aren’t. During the middle ages, when Jews were considered to be great financiers, most were poor. It wasn’t until the Industrial Age that Jews began working in finance and banking, such that they became wealthy, but this was hardly the norm for the average Jew in Europe and North America.

Fun Fact: There are numerous Jewish billionaires in the world today, including George Soros, Mark Zuckerberg, and Michael Bloomberg, to name a few.^[23]

3 Mexicans Are Lazy

The fact that Americans think of Mexicans as lazy can be seen in every depiction of a farmer reclining against a cactus with a sombrero pulled down to cover his eyes as he sleeps. It’s a widespread belief in the United States, and it has led to an overall negative depiction of Mexican people.^[24]

The Origin: The belief that Mexicans are lazy stems from a long line of historical prejudices made against Mexicans by Americans. The general belief that Mexicans are flooding the borders to take American jobs isn’t new; it’s been ongoing for well over a century. The problem continues, and in 2016, the Texas State Board of Education called for textbooks covering Mexican American Studies for the state. One sample included text describing “Mexicans as lazy, and Mexican Americans as cultural separatists, stubbornly resisting assimilation.”^[25]

The Reality: Mexican workers are demonstrably, not lazy, and most work longer and harder than the average American. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, an average Mexican worker provided 2,246 hours of labor in 2015. That same year, the average American worked 1,790 hours.^[26]

Fun Fact: The belief that Mexicans are lazy is common in the United States, while, at the same time, the belief that Mexicans are taking American jobs exists, effectively canceling each other out.

2 The Angry Black Woman

It is widely believed that black women tend to be more aggressive and loud when they get angry. At the U.S. Open final in 2018, Serena Williams received a code violation and was fined. She went off on the referee and was labeled as an Angry Black Woman in the press with pictures of her yelling, demanding an apology.^[27] Professor Trina Jones, a Duke University scholar who specializes in racial and socioeconomic inequality, spoke out on the incident.^[28] “Black women are not supposed to push back, and when they do, they’re deemed to be domineering. Aggressive. Threatening. Loud.”

The Origin: Minstrel shows of the 19th century parodied African American women by insinuating they were overly aggressive and angry. They dubbed them as “Sassy Mammies,” which were women who defied social norms. This belief was further developed into the term “Sapphire,” which is an insult referencing the dominant, and often masculine portrayals of enslaved black women.

The Reality: Black women get angry like everyone else in the world, and there is no truth to the belief that they are somehow more aggressive than anyone else.^[29]

Fun Fact: Some of the world’s most powerful, successful, and influential women have carried the label, including Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, and many more.

1 All Muslims Are Terrorists

There’s a common belief in the United States and Europe that ascribes the majority of terrorist attacks to Muslims. This has resulted in numerous stereotypes and prejudicial acts carried out against Muslims, including “Flying while Muslim” and many more.

The Origin: For most people who believe this stereotype, the terrorist attacks on 9/11 were the origin. Those coordinated attacks were conducted by a group of Muslim men who believed they were doing the will of Allah. Immediately following the attacks, Islamaphobia in the United States turned up to 11, and numerous attacks followed. The addition of fearmongering by vocal critics with a soapbox made the problem worse, and a general fear of Muslim people remains common around the world.

The Reality: The terrorists who carried out the attacks on 9/11 did so because of their personal beliefs, but their perverted view of Islam doesn’t line up with the vast majority of Muslims across the world. Muslims make up around 24% of the global population, which amounts to around 1.8 billion people.^[30] Of those, only about 0.00009% have committed acts of terror or believe terrorism is justified as part of their religious beliefs.^[31]

Fun Fact: In the United States, more terrorist acts are carried out by white citizens than any other race or ethnicity. Between 1980 and 2005, non-Muslims committed 94% of all terrorist attacks in the United States, including 9/11.^[32]

About The Author: Jonathan is a graphic artist, illustrator, and writer. He is a Retired Soldier and enjoys researching and writing about history, science, theology, and many other subjects.

[WARNING: contains foul language and offensive concepts.] In their early days, The Who’s live performances would sometimes culminate in the band destroying their instruments. Guitarist Pete Townsend would hold his six-string aloft and proceed to smash it against the stage. Earlier this year, Californian indie star Phoebe Bridgers attempted a similar feat on Saturday Night Live. At the climax of her song “I Know The End”, Bridgers started bashing her guitar against a monitor. A few sparks came out, but nothing actually broke. She later tweeted that she had asked the guitar company’s permission before trying to trash their kit and assured fans that the monitor was a prop. Outrageous behavior.

Off the back of performances like that, it is easy to see why some people think punk (and other forms of protest music) is dead. The majority of musicians today seem to be terrified of controversy (or are simply now part of the status quo or paid off to not inhibit “progress” which most of them agree with anyway). Most of those who have anything of any substance to say keep quiet or dilute their message to ensure the flow of money. But towards the fringes, there are plenty of musicians who are unafraid to speak their political (typically left-wing) minds. These feisty players call out conservatives; engage in protest; and rebel against those whom they consider to be crooked politicians. Here are ten bands and artists that prove the spirit of punk is still very much alive.

Top 20 Best Rock Bands Of All Time

10 Fat White Family

Fat White Family is one of the most outspoken bands around today. The south London rockers seem to thrive on controversy, especially in their early days. First emerging in 2011, they made a name for themselves touting a confrontational blend of transgressive art, nihilism, and brazen drug references.

Their debut album, Champagne Holocaust, featured frontman Lias Saudi singing about “fifteen-year-old tongue” and throwing out such lines as “Hell hath no fury like a failed artist. Or a successful communist.” Fat White Family has gone on to release songs such as ‘Bomb Disneyland’, ‘Vagina Dentata’, and ‘Goodbye Goebbels’, a tongue-in-cheek love letter to the infamous National Socialist politician.

The band first made headlines in 2013, following the death of former British PM Margaret Thatcher. The day the Iron Lady died, Fat White Family members scrawled the words ‘The Witch is Dead’ onto a banner and joined the hundreds of people out partying in Brixton to celebrate Thatcher’s demise.

The notorious shock merchants have since found themselves at the center of various controversies. There are rumors of band members stripping naked on stage and covering themselves in poop. US music site Pitchfork criticized Saudi, who has Algerian heritage, for using the term “sand nigger” in a satirical Twitter post. In 2020, the band was attacked online after Saudi wrote a damning treatise against Bristol punk band Idles.

Despite that madness, the band finds their antics to be fairly innocuous. “It’s not like we’re breaking any boundaries or anything, y’know?” they told reporters back in 2015. “People got naked and covered themselves in sh——t on stage like thirty years ago. It’s nothing new… I don’t think we’re doing anything unique or special.”

9 Sleaford Mods

Sleaford Mods are another British group raging against the establishment with their pro-vegan and socialist viewpoint (missing the irony of wearing a Cartier watch . . . oops). Originating in Nottingham, the duo soon earned a formidable reputation for their in-your-face live shows. During performances, frontman Jason Williamson howls obscene lyrics of Brexit-era Britain at the audience. His partner in crime Andrew Fearn stumbles about behind him, loading up angry, jagged instrumentals for Williamson to rant over.

“I’m sick of trying to hold it down,” he rages. “I just want to get f——cked up all the time. I wanna leave work, go pub, buy drugs, and f——cking spit at people.”

Sleaford Mods released their latest record, Spare Ribs, at the start of 2021. The album features tracks like ‘Shortcummings’, a piece about conservative political advisor Dominic Cummings, and ‘Out There’ which the NME described as “a perfectly tragicomic painting of our Plague Island.”

8 Goat Girl

When band members give themselves names like L.E.D, Clottie Cream, Holly Hole, and Rosy Bones, you know they mean business. London-based Goat Girl is a band with extremist political intent (as is pretty much every band or form of “entertainment” these days).

Their self-titled debut album was described by singer and guitarist Clottie Cream as being “about gentrification and the wealth gap that exists in London, which is insane.” On ‘Burn The Stake’, ¬she implores the listener to “Build a bonfire. Build a bonfire. Put the Tories on top. Put the D.U.P. in the middle and we’ll burn the f——cking lot.” It is a fierce track lambasting Britain’s ruling alliance between Boris Johnson’s Conservative party and the Northern Irish right-wing.

7 Amanda Palmer

Journalists have called Amanda Palmer a pioneer of crowdfunding, a DIY musician adored by fans the world over. In 2013, the former Dresden Dolls member found herself in the tabloids after a minor onstage wardrobe malfunction. Palmer claims that The Daily Mail wrote an entire article about her nip slip but failed to mention anything about the performance itself. Instead, the journalist focused solely on the fact that one of Palmer’s breasts had apparently “escaped her bra”. She says the Daily Mail published photos of the incident under the title “Making a boob of herself!”

Amanda Palmer is no stranger to nudity. As she pointed out, if the newspaper had put in the slightest bit of effort to look her up they would have found far more salacious images online. Palmer found the experience to be so odd that she performed a song about it at the Roundhouse in London. “It’s so sad what you tabloids are doing,” she sang as a waltz to an audience of devoted fans. “Your focus on debasing women’s appearances devolves our species of humans”.

Halfway through the tune, the acclaimed songwriter stripped off completely in protest at her treatment by the British press. In video footage, she can be seen tossing her kimono to the side and completed the song wearing nothing but a pair of black gloves. “It’s just a naked woman,” she told her whooping audience with a wry smile, before finishing the song with a rousing cry of “Dear Daily Mail, up yours.”

6 Stormzy

Michael Ebenezer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr, better known as Stomzy, is one of the most popular rappers in Britain today. But in 2018 he used his position as a well-known musician to attack the government. At that year’s Brit Awards, the grime MC criticized then-prime minister Theresa May in an impassioned performance.

“Yo, Theresa May where’s that money for Grenfell? What you thought we just forgot about Grenfell?” In June 2017, the residential Grenfell Tower block went up in flames. The blaze killed 71 people and left hundreds more without a home. “You criminals,” he continued, “and you got the cheek to call us savages. You should do some jail time. You should pay some damage. We should burn your house down and see if you can manage this.” Stormzy went on to win Best British Male and Best Album at the ceremony.

5 Noname

Noname is another hip-hop artist continuing the tradition of political rebellion. The Chicago rapper is known for her songs on race, sex, and identity, all of which inform her politically focussed lyrics. Although she started as a self-declared poet, she soon turned to rap music, collaborating with her Chicago peers like Chance The Rapper and Saba.

Like Chance, Noname refuses to sign to a record label. Instead, she is an independent artist who finances her own projects and is proud of what she calls her “fight the man mentality.” Noname used the money from her 2016 mixtape Telefone to pay for her debut album Room 25.

4 Slowthai

Over the last few years, Tyron Frampton has become something of a national sensation. Born in the English town of Northampton, the rapper is known for his no-nonsense attacks on the British government.

In September 2019, Slowthai performed at an awards show holding an effigy of Boris Johnson’s severed head. He walked on stage at the Hyundai Mercury Prize with a decapitated dummy of the British prime minister, shouting, “Fu——k Boris Johnson, f——ck everything, and there’s nothing great about Britain.”

Some social media users were quick to criticize Slowthai’s stunt, but the rapper was having none of it. “Last night I held a mirror up to this country,” he wrote on Twitter “and some people don’t like its reflection. Yet this is exactly where we’re being taken, cut off and at all costs. The people in power who are trying to isolate and divide us aren’t the ones who will feel its effects the hardest.”

3 Pussy Riot

For the last ten years, Pussy Riot has been fighting back against the alleged human rights abuses of the Russian government. The musical outfit is known for its outrageous, attention-grabbing stunts. Several members have been jailed for criticizing the Kremlin.

Formed in Moscow, the group staged its first performance in November 2011. The band clambered up scaffolding, ripped open pillows, and threw the feathers onto the subway below. Other early outings included a show next door to Moscow Detention Center. In another, called ‘Putin Z——ssa’ aka ‘Putin Has P——ssed Himself’, they let off a smoke bomb in the Red Square.

Global notoriety came in 2012 when they demonstrated against the re-election of Vladimir Putin. Putin won the vote amidst accusations of rigging the ballot (much like the US and Joe Biden recently). Five Pussy Riot members in colored balaclavas staged a protest in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. They leapt around the altar singing their anti-Putin anthem ‘A Punk Prayer’ under the slogan “Sr——n Gospodnya” (“sh——t to the Lord”).

Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova were jailed for their role in the stunt. Both women were sent to gulags hundreds of miles from their families. After their release in 2014, the band started playing more conventional gigs. They described them as a “subversive mix of activist art and live set.”

But in 2018 Pussy Riot made headlines once again when they invaded the final of the Russian World Cup. Four members ran onto the pitch of Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium dressed in police uniform. The band demanded that the Russian government:

• Free all political prisoners
• Stop arrests at public rallies
• Allow political competition in the country
• Stop fabricating criminal cases and jailing people on remand for no reason

The stunt took place during the second half of the France v Croatia match, in which France won 4-2.

After the pitch invasion, Tolokonnikova’s ex-husband Pyotr Verzilov fell ill and was taken to hospital in serious condition. Doctors strongly believe that he was poisoned.

2 Grup Yorum

Grup Yorum is, without a doubt, one of the most rebellious bands that have ever existed. The Turkish folk group (who are really punk in spirit only) has battled against state repression since they formed in 1985. The founding members created the group as students at Marmara University. They were inspired by the left-wing Nueva Cancion cultural movement of Latin America.

Despite changes in the band’s line-up, Grup Yorum has kept its firm “progressive” stance. The band performs folk music shaped by centuries of traditional Turkish culture. But Grup Yorum is not stuck in the past. Their songs also explore themes like the killing of teenager Berkin Elvan by state police, the Kurdish liberation struggle, and women’s rights.

The Turkish government has responded by banning their live shows, arresting many of their members, and raided their cultural center in Istanbul on several occasions. They accuse the band of being part of the Marxist-Leninist group DHKP-C. But state repression could not kill the band’s popularity. In 2015, Grup Yorum held a free concert in the western city of Izmir. Over a million people are said to have turned up.

After the attempted coup in 2016, the Erdoğan regime stepped up its attacks on the group. Six members were announced as wanted terrorists as placed on the government’s “grey list”. Two fled to Europe, while another five were arrested and sent to prison. In May 2019, they made the decision to go on a hunger strike.

On April 3rd, 2020, after 288 days without food, singer Helin Bölek died. She was 28. Mustafa Koçak, a supporter of the band who joined them in their hunger strike, died three weeks later. Bassist İbrahim Gökçek also passed away, aged 39, on May 7th. All three died fighting for the right to perform and demanding their freedom of expression.

1 Kunt and the Gang

Kunt and the Gang is rebellious irreverence at its very best. Despite the name, the act is made up of one man, a foul-mouthed synth player from the British town of Basildon. Kunt started out in 2003, playing provocative comedy hits like ‘A Lonely Wank in a Travelodge’, ‘Jimmy Saville & The Sexy Kids’, and ‘Sh——tting On A Picture of the Queen’.

Then, in December 2020, Kunt and the Gang released his first big single. ‘Boris Johnson Is A F——cking C——nt’ is less than a minute long, but it is clear in its message. The novelty protest piece made it to number five in the Christmas charts and went on to become the twentieth best-selling song of that year. Clearly, it must have captured something in the psyche of the British progressive public.

Top 10 Disturbing Facts About Sid & Nancy’s Doomed Relationship

Let’s talk about 80’s and 90’s, an era loaded with Super Mario, Yoyo, pile of Cassettes and landlines. Those of us who were kids during that period grew up with Tom & Jerry, Mickey and Friends or Donald. We know the value of the only entertainment that was available for kids back then, other than indoor or outdoor games and general activities.

Most of us always came from school as a toddler and waited for Aladdin to come on his magic carpet on that black and white box. At that time, many countries telecast the famous cartoons like Mickey Mouse and Club House, He-Man and lots of hot cake cartoon programs in their Local languages.

The amazing Nana Patekar behind Sher Khan for the Mowgli telecast on Doordarshan in India is still a sensation on YouTube. But, when we all grew up indulging ourselves more into this cartoon world and jumped deep inside cartoons to recall our childhood attachments in their original versions, many of us must have found something hilarious. Not everything in that universe is always as innocent as it supposed to be and here is the list of Top 10 controversial trivia of cartoon characters.

10. Monster House

This famous production of Image Movers and Amblin Entertainment is an animated movie released in 2006, directed by Gil Kenan, which was distributed by Columbia Pictures. For the first time since “Back to the Future Part III”, Robert Zemeckis and Steven Spielberg worked together as executive producers in this movie.

As of now, this is the only animated film to feature an entirely original story and not based on existing source material. In one scene, with some extra attention, we can hear something ridiculous where our cast of characters Dj, Skull, Chowder and Bones, used as DJ, Punk, Freak, and Ketchup in the German version of the film, are all children, who are discussing the “anatomy” of the Monster House.

One kid points out the teeth, and then the tongue and then, again, he shouts, “That must be the uvula!” while pointing towards a chandelier. Another child promptly replies, “Oh, so this must be a female house.” The uvula, of course, a female character, in this film, somehow gets mixed up with the vulva.

9. The Spectacular Spider-Man

The Spectacular Spider-Man was developed for television by Greg Weisman and Victor Cook which is often referred to as the greatest Spider-Man cartoon ever made. After publishing “The Night Gwen Stacy Died” on 1973, Spider-Man Animated Series adopted the story in the episode, “Turning Point” where Gwen was replaced by Mary Jane. The Spectacular Spider-Man was acclaimed for its crisp dialogue and reintroduction of countless famous characters from the Spider-Man universe while still remaining loyal to the original comics.

It introduced some characters that would normally be disqualified from children’s programming, such as Black Cat concealed in a skin-tight, revealing uniform. The thing gets a little messy for its 10 years old target audience in one episode, in which Peter Parker hits high school. We all were curious to see tissues in his room, and then something splendid happens while he is chasing Black Cat around a warehouse.

While spraying his web all over, he hears Catwoman saying “You better not get your goop in my hair.” And he replies “Don’t worry; it comes off with ice or peanut butter.” Let’s leave the rest to the imagination.

8. Rugrats

Louis Kalhern “Grandpa Lou” Pickles is the senior most member of Pickles family from 1991 Cartoon Series, Rugrats, involving the daily life experiences that become adventures in the babies’ imaginations. It was created by Arlene Klasky, Gábor Csupó, and Paul Germain for Nickelodeon.

Rugrats was awarded with over 20 awards during 13 years of continuous broadcasting which includes 4 Daytime Emmy Awards, 7 Kids’ Choice Awards, and also its own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Grandpa Lou is one of the most controversial cartoon characters by Nick. It gets controversial when in one episode, Grandpa Lou rents some movies for the infant Tommy, Dil, and Angelica to watch.

He takes two movie cassettes naming “Reptar Come Home” and “Reptar Redux”, starring the kids’ favorite atomic dinosaur, Reptar. Along with these, he brings his personal favorite movie, “Lonely Space Vixens” where a green vixen hiding her private parts with shells in front appears as a cover picture of the cassette, to which he adds, “That’s for after you go to bed.”

7. The Flintstones

This famous cartoon series created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera was one of the oldest cartoons that broadcast in television. Aired from September 30, 1960, to April 1, 1966, the original work was first broadcast on ABC channel, America.

The Flintstones rarely got more sophisticated than Stone Age chauvinism and using woodpeckers as typewriters. That is, except for the time they quietly slipped a hilarious joke into an episode right into its tightly knit screenplay. In that episode, Fred and Barney go to the store for the purpose of filling their stone wardrobes.

Fred asks Barney about his preference of clothes he wants to buy. Barney replies that it will be good if he gets something that makes him look a little taller. Fred suggests, with a laugh, to buy another head for that height increment he wants. Barney promptly replies, “What do I need three of them for?” And it is obvious to understand about the second head, and you’ll also break into a laughter like the way they laughed after that.

6. Madagascar

Madagascar, a famous animated film, directed by Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath, was released in movie theaters on May 27, 2005. This is the film in which pineapples grow on trees in the jungle, whereas, in reality, pineapples grow on the ground.

If you carefully watch the scene where Skipper, the talking monkey reads a newspaper, you will notice that the newspaper is the comic itself. There is no real way to do that if you want to use a certain offensive synonym of ‘poop’ in any animated movies for children. But, to salute the amazing naughtiness of the voice of Ben Stiller, Chris Rock and David Schwimmer behind those amazing animals, scriptwriter, Mark Burton, Billy Frolick, Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath came up with a great idea.

In one particular scene where Alex, the famous lion character, voiced by Ben, and Marty the zebra, voiced by Chris, are running towards each other on the beach while theme music of Chariots of Fire playing in the air, Marty somehow manages to understand the not-so-loving run of Alex towards him and suddenly switches direction while yelling Sugar Honey Iced Tea. So, why was the Sugar Honey Iced Tea used there as an expressive outcome? Try to figure out the original word by reading only the first alphabets.

5. Powerpuff Girls

This famous cartoon series was created by animator Craig McCracken and produced by Cartoon Network Studios for Cartoon Network. Craig originally developed the show back in 1992 as a short cartoon title called “Whoopass Stew!”, while in his second year at California Institute of the Arts.

A continuous 7-year broadcasting with whopping success started from November 18, 1998, till it aired the final episode on March 25, 2005 which was nominated for six Emmy Awards, nine Annie Awards, and a Kids’ Choice Award. On June 16, 2014, In Comic-con Cartoon Network proudly announced plans to reboot the series in 2016. Its earlier original episodes are full with fun and laughter.

But, it goes extremely funny in one of the episodes when Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup bring one of their friends, Robin, home and introduce her to their dad, Professor Utonium, and they say that he is the guy who accidentally made them in the laboratory. Robin, being a normally born child, replies, “It’s Okay, Professor, I was an accident, too,” which made the professor drop his jaw.

4. Dexter’s Laboratory

This thick-accented little science prodigy is a marvelous gift for children by Genndy Tartakovsky for Cartoon Network. The same fellow that Star Wars creator George Lucas hired to direct Star Wars: Clone Wars. After it premiered on April 28, 1996 by 1999 it has telecast 52 episodes including a television movie. This concoction of tech and science for kids was not always as decent as it apparently seems.

The fact is that “Dexter’s Rude Removal” is the name of the episode which Cartoon Network refused to air due to the characters’ swearing. Later, Cartoon Network’s late night program, Adult Swim, eventually uploaded it on YouTube and got 500,000 views within 24 hours. Later, “Dial M for Monkey: Barbequor” episode featured Silver Spooner, a spoof of the Silver Surfer from Marvel Universe, which was perceived by Cartoon Network as a stereotype of gay men.

In “Nuclear Confusion” episode, while Dexter searched for the third clue by Dee Dee and went to Neighbor Lady’s house, that lady bent over to pick up a cookie she dropped onto the floor and he sees ‘Dad’s Trophy’ written across her buttocks on those purple pants.

3. Toy Story

The unforgettable 1995 animated adventure film, produced by Pixar and directed by John Lasseter is still a must watch for any kid. it was distributed solely by Walt Disney Pictures. Tom Hanks gave voice for Woody the plastic cowboy while Tim Allen amused us as space ranger Buzz Lightyear. But, it has also got a character for adults in a twisted way.

Do you remember that toy with bare legs and a hooker replacing her upper body? Yes, you got it right; there is a hooker in children’s film for adult entertainment for those toys. As an interesting fact, we can see that while Woody is a regular toy, his mouth alternates between closed and smiling to partially open.

Moreover, there’s a part of the splendid Pixar sequel Toy Story 2 in which Star Command space ranger Buzz Lightyear gets the toy equivalent of an erection. During the scene where Buzz is introduced to cowgirl Jessie when she’s just leaping around Andy’s room, Buzz stares at her while his eyes pops out due to excitement. And suddenly, his wings pop up and start flashing. There is no better way to show the plastic toys getting ‘turned on’ than this.

2. Aladdin

Aladdin is a Middle Eastern folk tale from The Arabian Nights successfully adapted by Walt Disney Pictures in cartoon back in 1992. This amazing series of three movies and tv series directed by John Musker and Ron Clements showcased Scott Weinger as Aladdin and Robin Williams as The Genie.

Disney successfully supported homosexuality 20 years back in a twisted way with a scene from the movie where Aladdin almost drowns after being kidnapped and dropped into the sea by Jafar’s goons. Genie saves his master and says out of genuine affection for Aladdin, “I’m getting pretty fond of you, kid,” and later adds, “Not that I want to pick out curtains, or anything.”

Later, in the movie “Aladdin and the King of Thieves”, Aladdin establishes himself as a fatherly character. That movie contains a hilarious reaction from Genie during Aladdin and Jasmine’s wedding sequence. There’s an earthquake, to which Genie reacts while muttering “I thought the Earth wasn’t supposed to move until the honeymoon.”

1. Donald Duck

“Der Fuehrer’s Face” aka “Donald Duck in Nutzi Land” won Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film at the 15th Academy Awards Directed by Jack Kinney under Walt Disney Productions and released in 1943 by RKO Radio Pictures, it is the only Donald Duck film to receive an Academy Award till now. The film contains Wallace’s original song, “Der Fuehrer’s Face” which was actually released earlier by Spike Jones.

Even the clouds and trees are shaped as swastikas in the movie to portray Hitler’s intensity on Germany at that time. In one scene of that movie, Donald faces and “Hails” the portraits of the “Fuehrer” Adolf Hitler before arriving at the factory’s bayonet-point, to starts his 48-hour daily shift screwing caps onto artillery shells in an assembly line.

The same film also featured Donald getting motivated while reading Mein Kampf and wearing Nazi band in his hand. In another scene, in Donald’s nightmare, he sees the shadow of a figure holding its right hand up in the form of a Nazi salute.

He begins to do so himself until he realizes that it is the shadow of a miniature of Statue of Liberty. While being proud of his United States citizenship, he embraces the statue. The movie gets more controversial when it ends with two sets of “Hails” and a tomato is thrown at a caricature of Hitler’s angry face and forms the words “The End”.

We also end here with Donald while expecting a colorful animated dream tonight, after indulging with all those cartoon characters above. Starting from black and white two-dimensional cartoons where characters hang in the air before they fall down from the cliff, till today’s state-of-the-art 3D superior animation movies, controversies and hidden messages are all there, but, what attracts most is far beyond those controversies.

It is the feel that they provide while viewing those animations which always leave a mark on our memories. Irrespective of our age, we all have enjoyed, and will continue to enjoy, those cartoons from our childhood, till Popeye is happy with Olive and there is enough money in Uncle Scrooge’s bank to dive in.

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Bad advertising are annoying, repetitive, try too hard to be funny, don’t try hard enough to be interesting, and get in the way of whatever movie you’re watching. But some bad ads go well below and beyond even that dismal expectations most people have for commercials, and get pulled from websites and airwaves. These ads are so offensive that they make you wonder how they got made in the first place. 

10. Kylie Jenner Pepsi Ad

To all ad creatives, ad executives, CMOs, and in-house marketing teams: we understand you believe in your product and want to share the good news with the world. But let’s be realistic here – new deodorant isn’t going to have women chasing after dorks like a pack of wolves, and a can of soda isn’t going to patch over centuries or historical pain and racial violence. At least the deodorant ads are in on the joke. We can’t say the same for Pepsi. 

In 2017, the soda company released an ad in which self made but not actually self made billionaire Kylie Jenner, of Kardashian-Jenner fame, instantly solved racial tensions by inviting both riot police and Black Lives Matter protesters to share a can of Pepsi. This led to peace and understanding in the world of the spot and the exact opposite of that in the actual world. Many felt the ad insultingly trivialized serious social justice movements and protests, particularly those advocating against police violence. In response to the criticism, Pepsi apologized and removed the advertisement, admitting that they missed the mark. Yeah, you think? 

9. McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish Ad

Pop quiz. An ad begins with a grieving boy asking his mom for stories about his dead father – specifically things they had in common – as a way of holding onto something, anything, that can serve as a connection to the most important man he’ll never meet. Powerful stuff. What’s it an ad for? Life insurance? Grief therapy? Some kind of charity? 

Nope! It’s a real ad for a Filet-O-Fish at McDonald’s. We’re not kidding. Learning that he shared the same dollar menu preferences as his dead dad was apparently enough to warm the kid’s heart even though his father won’t be around to see him grow up. If only it were that easy. Unsurprisingly, McDonalds UK yanked the spot after much public outrage, and admitted they had dropped the ball by using such a serious topic to sell fish sandwiches.

It’s one of those moments that makes you think, “how did nobody involved in this recognize how bad it was until it was too late?”

8. Hyundai’s Pipe-Job Ad

Selling cars with 100% hydro emissions is arguably a net positive for the environment and therefore humanity. Selling cars with 100% hydro emissions by making a crass suicide joke is most certainly not good for anyone. But that’s what Hyundai did in 2013, with a commercial in which a man tries to pump car exhaust into his parked vehicle with him inside only to wake up alive and well hydrated. 

Think of all the better ways they could’ve done this ad. Think of the comedy of errors that led to multiple people greenlighting this idea. Think of the outrage of people who’ve lost loved ones to suicide. Think of the embarrassment of all the higher ups when they had to pull the ad, apologizing for its outrageous and irresponsible story. Lastly, think of how unbelievable it is that Hyundai tried to wash their hands clean of the spot and dump all the blame on the ad agency that made it. Sure, there’s blame to go around. But commercials don’t get produced unless the client signs off on it, so nice try. 

7. Miracle Mattress 9/11 Ad

Think up some mattress commercial ideas. A couple waking up next to each other, smiling? Testimonials from folks who no longer have back pain? Comparisons with other competitors, highlighting the benefits of your product? Talking about unmissable upcoming deals? Nothing too revolutionary so far, but also nothing nearly as bad or offensive as a 2016 commercial from Texas based mattress retailer Miracle Mattress, which features someone diving into two upright mattresses in a way deliberately designed to evoke images of the September 11 terrorist attacks. It was all to promote the “Twin Towers Sale” and at the end, featured a cast member joking to the camera that “we’ll never forget.” 

Come. On. This is the kind of idea junior ad agency creatives would throw around as a joke during brain storming sessions before, you know, not actually pitching it to their creative director because they would get fired. And yet it actually got made, caused predictable outrage after going viral, and forced Miracle Mattress to pull the spot and issue an apology.  We hope they’re making more responsible ads now – is what we would’ve said if the controversy hadn’t forced them to close their doors. 

6. Dove’s Real Beauty Ad

Dove gained a lot of capital and good will with their long-running “Real Beauty” ad campaign, which promoted realistic beauty standards, told women to be proud of themselves, and celebrated women of all sizes, races, ages, and degrees of health. It’s a wholesome, inspiring message – that was all but undone in 3 seconds with a social media spot in which a Black woman transforms into a white one as a way of promoting cleansers and body wash. 

Oof. Unlike other hideously offensive ads, this one doesn’t appear to have been made in bad faith. But it’s all too easy to interpret it as saying that “our products can wash your ugly Black skin away until you’re nice and white.” It’s a great time to remind everyone that details and presentation matter, even when you had no nefarious intentions. Unsurprisingly, Dove was forced to retract the ad and issue an apology. 

5. WWF’s 9/11 Ad

What is it about commercials trivializing the September 11 terrorist attacks to promote products or services? It’s a great way to get attention, but never listen to people who tell you that “there’s no such thing as bad publicity.” Unless you’re some kind of extremist troll who loves hurting and provoking people, there absolutely is such a thing as bad publicity. 

That’s what the World Wildlife Fund learned the hard way when they tried to drum up donations for the terrible 2004 tsunami that killed hundreds of thousands of people in Southeast Asia, by comparing its death toll to the admittedly much less deadly 9/11 attacks. But… why, though? Just because people were grief stricken and traumatized by the twin towers going down on national TV doesn’t mean they didn’t care about the tsunami victims, so choosing to guilt them over it or to even accidentally imply that you’re only allowed to care about the deadlier disaster is a strange and unwelcome strategy. Both the WWF and responsible ad agency DDB Brasil intended to submit the spot to award shows before public outrage had both scrambling to downplay their involvement. 

4. Sprite’s “Brutally Refreshing” Ad

Promoting Sprite as being “brutally refreshing” is a pretty funny concept. The campaign started off on a good note, with “brutally refreshing truths” like “We all have one tight friend,” “one dip is never enough,” and “If you have to give your taxi driver directions, you’re better off walking.” But the campaign hit a penny on the rails and led to huge amounts of online criticism when it took over website JOE.ie and included the “brutally refreshing” line “she’s seen more ceilings than Michelangelo.” 

Putting aside the poor logic here (isn’t Michelangelo famous for his association with one specific ceiling instead of many ceilings?) this is just an inexcusably sexist line that seemed to come entirely out of left field. It’s not even “brutally refreshing.” It’s just regular old brutal, which is probably not a word Coke-Sprite wants anyone to associate with any of their products. After causing an uproar on Twitter, the offending ad was removed and apologies were fired out. Along with, we presume, several employees. 

3. Dacia’s “Most Offensive Car Commercial Ever”

Not all offensive statements have malicious motivations behind them. Sometimes good people say dumb things and are immediately remorseful in a “I am so sorry, that just slipped out!” kind of way. Or, sometimes they really did mean to say it but didn’t understand it was offensive until it was interpreted in a way that didn’t at all like up with their intentions. Or, you know, sometimes they really meant it and wanted it to anger everyone. 

Such is the case with a Dacia ad that’s been described by some as “the most offensive car commercial ever.” Featuring toilet humor, sex jokes, and offensive stereotypes galore at the expense of the Roma people (of all the targets, we had to punch down at one of the most historically oppressed minorities ever?), the ad went viral and prompted huge amounts of discussion and outrage. 

2. XLS Diet Pills Ad

We’re not saying diet pills and appetite suppressants are inherently bad. They have real medical value if their use is properly prescribed and overseen by medical professionals. But they’re definitely a tricky thing to market, because so many people want them for unhealthy reasons. 

It goes without saying that ad creatives should drive around the “I want to be skinny and hot” approach like the plague and instead stick to approved talking points. There is, after all, a good reason that pharmaceutical advertising is so samey and boring. There just isn’t that much you’re actually allowed to say. 

But apparently XLS Medical didn’t get the memo, after releasing an ad in which two young and visibly not overweight women said they wanted to use the pills to squeeze into holiday clothes. Yikes. The resulting outrage from the public and health groups alike was more predictable than the sunrise. There are too many ways this irresponsible ad falls creatively and ethically short to list. 

1. 888 Online Betting Ad

Gambling is controversial for a lot of reasons. So advertising gambling services like betting website 888.com is a minefield. There’s just such a fine line between promoting fun and the possibility of winning big, and accidentally pushing reckless and  irresponsible financial behavior.

But it’s not that hard to avoid some of the more obvious potential problems that nobody should even need to articulate. You know,  like an ad in which a depressed man turns to online gambling as a way to cover his dying wife’s medical bills. But that’s exactly what 888.com did in 2017 – leading to an uproar, a record fine from the Gambling Commission for irresponsible advertising, and being forced to pull the spot after the Advertising Standards Authority banned it for being “socially irresponsible” and “targeting vulnerable people.” Yikes. 

From prohibition to books, no matter how much we like to think we live in a free society, there is always something being banned. While many of these things don’t affect us all, many of them do. Furthermore, the whole concept of a minority (politicians) banning things for the majority is repugnant. This is a list of ten things recently banned, which led to controversy.

Food companies favor trans fats because it allows their products to stay fresh on the shelves longer and it is also made from less expensive oils keeping production costs down. The main concern with trans fats is the body is unable to break down trans fatty acids causing them to build up triggering high cholesterol and in some cases heart disease. In 2003 Denmark became the first country to ban foods containing large amounts of trans fats. Under this ban no more than two per cent of the fats and oils in any food product can contain trans fats. This effectively limits people’s trans fat intake to less than one gram per day. Switzerland followed with a similar ban in 2008.

Interesting Fact: The Center for Science in the Public Interest sued KFC over its use of trans fats in their fried foods. KFC then reviewed alternative oil options saying “there are a number of factors to consider including maintaining KFC’s unique taste and flavor of Colonel Sanders’ Original Recipe”. In 2006, KFC announced that it will replace the partially hydrogenated soybean oil it currently uses with a zero-trans-fat low linoleic soybean oil in all restaurants although its biscuits will still contain trans-fats.

In 2004 the Canadian Health Minister announced the Government’s immediate ban on baby walkers. Between 1990 and 2002, the ministry said, there were 1,935 reports of infants being injured using the walkers. It was determined that young children “do not have the necessary skills, reflexes or cognitive abilities to safely make use of the product”. The most common accident occurs when babies fall down stairs. The ban prohibits retailers from selling, advertising or importing baby walkers. Canada is the only country so far to ban Baby Walkers.

Interesting Fact: Many parents believe that baby walkers teach a child to walk faster; however, studies suggest that it is not true, and they may actually delay walking by two to three weeks.

Because the compact fluorescent (CFL) lasts five years longer and uses about 75 percent less energy it has prompted many countries to enact laws to phase out incandescent light bulbs. Australia passed a law in 2007 that will make it one of the first countries to ban the incandescent light bulbs outright in 2010. Cuba exchanged all incandescent light bulbs for CFLs, and banned the sale and import of them in 2005. The EU agreed to a phase out incandescent light bulbs by 2012. California recently passed a bill that will phase out the bulbs by 2018. New Zealand’s previous government passed legislation to ban the bulbs but the newly elected government threw the ban out due to the outcry the ban caused.

Interesting Fact: CFLs, like all fluorescent lamps, contain small amounts of mercury as vapor inside the glass tubing, averaging 4.0 mg per bulb. A broken compact fluorescent lamp will release its mercury content. This means that safe cleanup and disposing of broken compact fluorescent lamps will differ from incandescent bulbs.

Chewing gum was banned in Singapore in 1992 and was revised in 2004. Incorrect disposal of chewing gum on chairs, tables, floors and on the door sensors of the new metro system led to the ban. Regulations also did not make any provisions for personal use of quantities to be brought into Singapore. Therefore, bringing chewing gum into Singapore, even in small quantities was prohibited. In 2004 the Singapore Government recognized the proven health benefits of certain gums such as sugar-free gum that contains calcium lactate to strengthen tooth enamel. Medical gum was then allowed provided it was sold by a dentist or pharmacist who must take down the names of the buyers. Singapore is the only country with a chewing gum ban.

Interesting Fact: The Chicago-based Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company enlisted the help of a Washington, D.C lobbyist and the chairman of the U.S. House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade, to get chewing gum on the agenda of the United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement. This caused the 2004 revised ban allowing the medical improvement type gum.

In 2005 India became the first country to ban smoking and tobacco on-screen prohibiting all scenes showing the consumption of all tobacco products in movies and television programs. Whenever an actor smokes or consumes a tobacco product on screen, television channels must blur the scene. Films that already contain such scenes must run a scroll at the bottom of the screen, warning of the dangers of tobacco use.

Interesting Fact: Earlier this year the Delhi High Court overturned the Indian federal ban on performers smoking in films saying it is a reality of life and any censorship on its depiction would violate creative artists’ fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression.

Somewhere between 500 billion and a trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide each year. In 2002 Bangladesh became the first country to ban plastic bags outright after discovering the bags blocked drains and was one of the main causes of the devastating floods of 1988 and 1998. Another problem with plastic bags is they do not biodegrade in landfills and pose a danger to many marine mammals. Thin plastic bags are now banned in South Africa and thicker ones are taxed. Similar laws exist in many other countries. Australia and the United Kingdom are also considering bans. In the United States the cities of San Francisco and Oakland have banned plastic shopping bags completely and promote reusable and compostable sacks.

Interesting Fact: According to one statistics choosing paper or plastic may just involve choosing which resource to consume. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, the plastic bags used annually in the United States require about 12 million barrels of oil to produce. Paper bags require about 14 million trees. In a landfill, plastic bags take up less space than paper.

The move to ban super skinny or size-zero models came in 2006 after the death of 22-year-old model Luisel Ramos (shown on the right) who died of a heart attack moments after stepping off the catwalk. Ramos apparently was eating nothing but green leaves and diet coke for three months. Reports said she’d been told by her modeling agency that she would have a big future if she would loose a lot of weight. Stylists signed a joint declaration with the Italian government stating that, all models in shows must have a body mass index of 18 and above and must be “full bodied and healthy.” Madrid’s annual fashion show also banned models with a body mass index of less than 18 and there are calls for similar restrictions at London fashion shows.

Interesting Fact: In early 2007, Luisel’s 18-year-old sister Eliana Ramos, also a model (shown on the left) also died of an apparent heart attack believed to be related to malnutrition.

This is the most recent ban on the list and gained momentum after members of the Bolivian wing of an animal rights group went undercover. They revealed that animals in circuses are confined to cages without room for them to move around and forced to stay crammed in cages for the majority of their lives. The Bolivian Senate agreed to the ban and President Morales signed it into law in July 2009. There are similar bans on animal use in circuses in Austria, Costa Rica, Finland and Denmark where it is prohibited to use certain species of wild animals. Bolivia is the first and only country to ban both wild and domestic animals from traveling circus.

Interesting Fact: The recent attention given to animal cruelty in circuses has prompted Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus to release a fact sheet on how their animals are treated. You can read the fact sheet here.

Everyone is familiar with the recent smoking regulations that have affected smokers all over the world. In 2004 Ireland became the first country to prohibit smoking in all indoor workplaces including restaurants and bars. In 2008 a small mountainous kingdom between India and China called Bhutan was the first to ban smoking and tobacco sales outright. Authorities celebrated the ban by igniting a bonfire of cigarettes in the capital city and hanging banners across the main thoroughfare urging people to kick the habit. Violators in Bhutan are fined $232 (more than two months’ salary) The Ban on tobacco has caused an increase in the illegal trade of tobacco products to Bhutan. No other country so far has banned smoking and tobacco outright.

Interesting Fact: The first modern, nationwide tobacco ban was imposed by the Nazi Party. Smoking was prohibited in every German university, post office, military hospital, and Nazi Party office. The Institute for Tobacco Hazards Research was created in 1941 under orders from Adolf Hitler. Major anti-tobacco campaigns were widely broadcast by the Nazis until the end of the regime in 1945.

Sweden was the first country to ban parental spanking back in 1979. It took many years before another country would follow but now a total of 24 countries have passed similar laws. The most recent countries are Venezuela, Uruguay, Portugal, Spain and New Zealand in 2007 (though a referendum is being held to determine whether the anti-smacking bill should be repealed this year since the change of government) and Costa Rica and Republic of Moldova in 2008. There have been many studies done on the results of the Sweden spanking ban. Some studies suggest it has reduced child abuse in the country to almost zero. Other studies show Sweden with a lower rate of child deaths due to abuse than 20 out of 27 developed countries. Another recent report by Sweden suggested that the spanking ban has made little change in problematic forms of physical punishment.

Interesting Fact: In the United States (In all 50 states) it is legal for parents to spank or paddle their children. In 23 states corporal punishment is still legal in public schools. Canada bans corporal punishment for children under two and over twelve years of age, as well as the use of any objects such as a paddle.