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Princess Diana in her underwear in Chinese lingerie ads
By Jessica GentileSeptember 3rd, 2010, 11:05 amComments (5)
In a controversial (and kind of bizarre) new ad campaign, a Chinese lingerie company unveiled a series of billboards depicting a scantily clad Princess Diana. In one, a look-alike model, wearing only a bra, panties and tiara (of course), is playing the cello while gazing at an angelic child. The image is accompanied by the slogan "Feel the Romance of British Royalty". Because nothing says romance like an unhappily married and ultimately doomed princess playing a stringed instrument — in the presence of a toddler, no less.
The unveiling of the ads by Jealously International Garments, now on prominent display at airports and city centers across Southern China, coincided with the thirteenth anniversary of Diana's death. The Royal Family has yet to comment on the use of the late-Princess' likeness, though the rest of Britain / the internet seem righteously pissed-off.
It begs the question, how soon is too soon? Would it be a big deal to use Jackie O? Also, will the next set of ads feature Prince Charles in his knickers?
Commentarium (5 Comments)
Jackie O? Who the hell wants to see that anorexic in a bra? Give me Diana any day, with her perky nipples and beautiful blue, come-hither eyes. Yes!
I know it's a facetious question, but my answer would be not less than 75 years. For example, I don't think you could use Jackie O or Eleanor Roosevelt in a "funny" commercial yet and have it be considered in acceptable taste. But the new GEICO commercial with Abe and Mary Todd Lincoln, with his wfe asking "Honest Abe" if a dress makes her butt look big is really funny. By contrast, having, for example, FDR say to Eleanor, "You have nothing to fear, but your rear itself," would come across as crass and vulgar (even if I'm immensely pleased that I just came up with that line).
Clearly the advertising people don't know anything about the cello. Her posture is wrong, she's holding the instrument wrong, the book contains piano music, and it's being held at an angle where she can't read it. Sigh. At least it's better than Prince Charles in his knickers.
Totally agree C97. We need to see those knees wrapped around that cello. Now that's the royal treatment.
It does bring to mind though, the infamous Coke campaign that promised the Chinese that Coke would resurrect their dead ancestors because it "brings good things to life," so I guess the cultural misconstructions go both ways. No doubt more our way as they get rich and we continue to get poorer.
And for the record the ad doesn't "beg the question," it raises the question. Jeez.. learn some English already.
Yeah, the Chinese have no class. None.
Now you say something