Now adverts relating to 50 Cent's movie 'Get Rich Or Die Tryin' are causing trouble over here. As previously reported, posters for the movie caused outrage in America for allegedly glorifying gun violence. Criticism from certain lobbying groups led to the removal of the billboard posters from some US cities.
The poster causing offence over here specifically promotes the soundtrack to the movie. It features an image of the rapper's back. He is holding a baby in his right hand, with a gun tucked into the back of his jeans. The Advertising Standard Authority said it received 17 complaints about the poster, mainly claiming that the image glorified gun crime.
Universal Music argued that the poster was meant to communicate Fiddy's "fight to escape the ghetto", but the ASA has upheld the complaints, ruling it breaches advertising rules relating to social responsibility, violence, decency, anti-social behaviour and children.
While recognising that the poster could be interpreted in a less controversial way when put into the context of the plot of the movie, the ASA said: "We considered, however, that Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson had such cultural credibility, especially among young people, that his association with gang culture and criminal behaviour was likely to be seen as glamorising and condoning the possession and use of guns."