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| OnlyFans account billboards in London streets spark complaints | OnlyFans account billboards in London streets spark complaints |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| One of the adverts in Harrow has been spray-painted over | One of the adverts in Harrow has been spray-painted over |
| Billboards advertising a woman's explicit OnlyFans account have sparked complaints to the advertising watchdog. | Billboards advertising a woman's explicit OnlyFans account have sparked complaints to the advertising watchdog. |
| The adverts, showing model Eliza Rose Watson in underwear, have appeared in Harrow and Edgware in north-west London and Lambeth in south-west London. | The adverts, showing model Eliza Rose Watson in underwear, have appeared in Harrow and Edgware in north-west London and Lambeth in south-west London. |
| One of the adverts in Harrow has been spray-painted over, with the words "keep porn off our streets". | One of the adverts in Harrow has been spray-painted over, with the words "keep porn off our streets". |
| The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) says it is reviewing complaints about the advert. | The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) says it is reviewing complaints about the advert. |
| In a statement, the ASA said it had received five complaints about the advert. | In a statement, the ASA said it had received five complaints about the advert. |
| "Complainants believe the ad is inappropriate, in particular in untargeted media where children are able to view it," it said. | "Complainants believe the ad is inappropriate, in particular in untargeted media where children are able to view it," it said. |
| "We're reviewing these complaints to determine whether there are grounds for an investigation." | "We're reviewing these complaints to determine whether there are grounds for an investigation." |
| However, Ms Watson told the BBC the visual content of the adverts had been "very well thought out". | However, Ms Watson told the BBC the visual content of the adverts had been "very well thought out". |
| 'Less racy' | 'Less racy' |
| She explained: "The image in the art is simply a torso shot of a 34-year-old woman. | She explained: "The image in the art is simply a torso shot of a 34-year-old woman. |
| "I would say it's no more adult than an ad for alcohol and, actually, less racy even than ads you see for lingerie within big shopping centres. | "I would say it's no more adult than an ad for alcohol and, actually, less racy even than ads you see for lingerie within big shopping centres. |
| "It's kind of an adult thing to do, to join the dots between the logo and the image." | "It's kind of an adult thing to do, to join the dots between the logo and the image." |
| The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) says it is reviewing complaints | The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) says it is reviewing complaints |
| Ms Watson, who said she paid for four adverts in London and two in New York, added that if a child or young adult recognised the OnlyFans logo then it was a "wider issue" because such content is widespread online. | Ms Watson, who said she paid for four adverts in London and two in New York, added that if a child or young adult recognised the OnlyFans logo then it was a "wider issue" because such content is widespread online. |
| She went on to suggest restricting where such adverts could be placed would only "demonise" them, asking: "Is applying shame and stigma to something the best way to be dealing with something that is everywhere?" | She went on to suggest restricting where such adverts could be placed would only "demonise" them, asking: "Is applying shame and stigma to something the best way to be dealing with something that is everywhere?" |
| Members of the public in Harrow had mixed feelings about the adverts when asked about them by the BBC. | Members of the public in Harrow had mixed feelings about the adverts when asked about them by the BBC. |
| Alex Mitchell says it is wrong the advert is placed near schools | Alex Mitchell says it is wrong the advert is placed near schools |
| Alex Mitchell said: "I've got no issues with people following a career, if it's legal. | Alex Mitchell said: "I've got no issues with people following a career, if it's legal. |
| "But I think advertising issues like what's on the poster behind me when you're close to local schools - you've got a primary school up the end of this road, you've got a secondary school there - young people are impressionable, and it's completely out of order." | "But I think advertising issues like what's on the poster behind me when you're close to local schools - you've got a primary school up the end of this road, you've got a secondary school there - young people are impressionable, and it's completely out of order." |
| Pushpa says she does not like the advert because it is "suggestive" | Pushpa says she does not like the advert because it is "suggestive" |
| Pushpa, who did not want to give her last name, said: "It's very suggestive and it's very distracting, I would say, for other drivers going around and pedestrians. | Pushpa, who did not want to give her last name, said: "It's very suggestive and it's very distracting, I would say, for other drivers going around and pedestrians. |
| "I wouldn't want it here because it's not relevant to this kind of area, to any area." | "I wouldn't want it here because it's not relevant to this kind of area, to any area." |
| Another woman, who did not want to be identified, said: "It doesn't really bother me. | Another woman, who did not want to be identified, said: "It doesn't really bother me. |
| "To be honest, I would walk past it and not even notice it, and also I've seen women in bikinis and stuff before so I wouldn't really take much notice." | "To be honest, I would walk past it and not even notice it, and also I've seen women in bikinis and stuff before so I wouldn't really take much notice." |
| She added those complaining were "slightly overreacting". | She added those complaining were "slightly overreacting". |
| Another woman said: "If I walked past it I wouldn't glance twice at it, that's not something I would look at. | Another woman said: "If I walked past it I wouldn't glance twice at it, that's not something I would look at. |
| However, she continued by saying that since pupils were able to walk past the adverts, "they might see that and wonder why it's there, so I don't think it's a very good idea to keep it on the side of a building, especially on a crowded street". | However, she continued by saying that since pupils were able to walk past the adverts, "they might see that and wonder why it's there, so I don't think it's a very good idea to keep it on the side of a building, especially on a crowded street". |
| A spokesperson for billboard company Amplify, which is hosting the adverts in London, told the BBC it follows "strict ASA rules" and the company had "stuck to the advertising guidelines". | |
| "The contents of the campaign are those of the advertiser, not of Amplify," they said. | |
| "We believe the adverts being displayed are well within the ASA rules." | "We believe the adverts being displayed are well within the ASA rules." |
| OnlyFans declined to comment. | OnlyFans declined to comment. |
| Follow BBC London on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC London on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Harrow | Harrow |
| OnlyFans | OnlyFans |
| London | London |
| Advertising Standards Authority | Advertising Standards Authority |
| Lambeth | Lambeth |
| Edgware | Edgware |