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Dakota Fanning’s Marc Jacobs Ad Banned for Being Too Racy

11/09/2011 at 12:00 PM ET

Dakota Fanning Oh, Lola
Courtesy Marc Jacobs

Dakota Fanning‘s latest role has received a big thumbs-down in the U.K.

The actress’s recent magazine ad for Marc Jacobs’s Oh, Lola! perfume is too suggestive, Britain’s advertising watchdog has ruled, and must be pulled immediately, the BBC reports.

The ad in question shows the 17-year-old American actress in a thigh-length dotted dress with an oversize flower-topped bottle of Oh, Lola! resting between her legs.

The U.K.’s Ad Standards Authority determined that “the length of her dress, her leg and position of the perfume bottle drew attention to her sexuality. Because of that, along with her appearance, we considered the ad could be seen to sexualize a child.”

The ASA ruled that the ad was irresponsible, likely to cause “serious offense,” and must not appear again.

Coty UK, the maker of the perfume, had argued that the image was “provoking but not indecent.” On Tuesday, Marc Jacobs released a statement, calling the banning “unfortunate.” He wrote:

“It was our pleasure to work with Dakota Fanning for the Oh, Lola! campaign. She is a smart, pretty, interesting, talented young woman and we would never have suggested an advertising concept that we thought was inappropriate. I believe she is also very thoughtful about the projects she takes on and would not have done something that she felt was in questionable taste. It’s really unfortunate that people have taken anything negative from what we believe is a really good campaign and one that so perfectly embodies the fragrance.” Tell us: Do you think Fanning’s ad is too racy for print?

–Tim Nudd

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Showing 339 comments

Andre on

I think its great!!!!!

Leisa on

Yes. It is too racy and too suggestive. Young girl…older gal……either way she’s dressed innocently with a flower between her legs. Give me a break. How does it not say “take my flower (virginity)”. I don’t see why everything has to be about sex is beyond me.

Smangele on

I find it the comments saying they can’t see *how* this could be racy and that it looks innocent – completely bizarre. It is not accidental in any way, that the perfume ad uses a very young girl (Dakota), the perfume is placed as it is (resting in her crotch) and that the perfume is called Lola (short for Lolita). It is overtly sexual – but high end fashion, perfume and make-up ads are typically sexual. But this one is not *just* using a young model (common), and is not just sexual (also common) – it combines all together youth + sex. The company would certainly not have wanted to wait till she was older or used a different model. The effect they wanted to achieve was portrayed exactly as they intended.

tootie on

Where are her parents in the decision making?????

JJ on

I support their decision. Though I personally don’t find the photo “racy”, I do think it is suggestive, and because she is a minor they must be extremely cautious. If she was 18 I don’t think they would have had a problem, but in this scenario it is best to err on the side of caution.

tazbabe07 on

After having raised three children of which two are girls this ad is nothing in the way of suggestive. Dakota’s body is covered in an appropriate way. And where else would you put a big bottle like that???!!!!

Dianne on

Yes, it is and Kim probably doesn’t think it is racy……….because she can’t even spell ad right! It’s suggestive and was meant to be………it’s not pretty or cute! It is trying to depict sex no matter how you look at it.

tamra on

I’m happy to see that they are protecting Dakota’ honor… she is a very classy young lady, looks like the Uk wants to keep her that way. the ubited states would have her naked with the bottle between her legs. Protect our Children..

Claire on

When I first saw it a while back I thought , the bottle is on her who ha. Belongs in Playboy. Good for Britain and shame on Dekota for allowing people who knew better for putting her in this position. Sad that Dekota doesn’t have an agent who cares about how she is portrayed.

Houghtons Human on

I agree that the ad is selling a child as a sex object….perfume, right.

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