'Sexist' Airline Ad Riles Up UK TV Viewers

Virgin Atlantic defends spot; standards board says it's 'humorous'
By Jim O'Neill,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 11, 2009 8:56 AM CST

A Virgin Atlantic TV ad featuring female flight attendants strutting through Heathrow Airport while harried male passengers ogle them is not sexist, Britain’s advertising watchdog has ruled. The ad, celebrating Virgin’s 25th anniversary, drew 29 complaints, reports the Telegraph. Critics cried stereotyping; the independent Advertising Standards Authority said the ad, set in 1984, "played upon perceived attitudes of that time in a humorous way." (Read more airline industry stories.)

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