Burnout Dominator ad pulled for 'encouraging violence'

by Christopher Grant { Jun 27th 2007 at 9:10AM }

The above ad for Burnout Dominator -- depicting a crashed vehicle and a burning tire -- was pulled from London subway stations after the UK's Advertising Standards Authority received 37 complaints that the ad appeared to encourage violence, dangerous driving, and vandalism. Though Electronic Arts argued that the focus was on the game since the advertisement (we're saying that the British way) did not show people, just the mangled wreckage of your virtual accomplishments, the ASA nevertheless called the ad "irresponsible." Poe-tay-toe, poe-tah-toe. Ad-ver-tize-ment, ad-ver-tis-ment.

[Thanks, Vince]

Tags: banned, burnout, burnoutdominator, EA, UK

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

sheppy @ Jun 27th 2007 9:15AM

Somehow... I still prefer the recent PS2 ads.

PS2
Because Your Girlfriend
Bores Your Shitless.

Paul G @ Jun 27th 2007 9:48AM

Once again, i feel ashamed to be British :( who are these sensitive souls who complain about adverts and what not? Can't we put them out of their misery?

Zach @ Jun 27th 2007 9:56AM

I'm assuming that the ad in question is the one the picture is of in the post and if so, I can see where people are coming from. The image would be fine, but the tagline ain't so hot - "Inner Peace Through Outer Violence." I think that slogan without the image is irresposible because it can be taken in so many bad ways, even if it is an advertisement for a game.

liqwid @ Jun 27th 2007 9:58AM

I bet it's on YouTube.

Dave @ Jun 27th 2007 10:15AM

When does the book-burning start?

Dracula Jones @ Jun 27th 2007 10:20AM

Dietrich has gone too far this time!

Pyronite @ Jun 27th 2007 10:30AM

I wonder if they're running this advertisement in France...

sheppy @ Jun 27th 2007 10:41AM

V DUB in Da house?

DOCC OCC @ Jun 27th 2007 11:14AM

Anyone have a high res version of this pic???

Zaidyn @ Jun 27th 2007 11:58AM

@4:
It's not a video, it's a billboard.

It's at the top of the page.

Ska Oreo @ Jun 27th 2007 12:43PM

@6

LOL

Loki @ Jun 27th 2007 4:50PM

@3

'Chanting' "Inner Peace Through Outer Violence."
'Chanting' "Inner Peace Through Outer Violence."
'Chanting' "Inner Peace Through Outer Violence."

Is this a bad way?

Grey Fox @ Jun 27th 2007 5:09PM

The Advertising Standards Agency is really bordering on censorship. It was fine when they put Activision in their place for the prerendered COD2 ads but this is stupid.