Lastminute.com blasted for Gary Glitter kiddy ad

Coughs to 'error of judgement'

By Tim Richardson • Get more from this author

Posted in Music and Media, 15th March 2006 10:38 GMT

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Lastminute.com blamed an "error in judgement" after an ad plugging the sale of theatre tickets used a tasteless pun about disgraced pop star Gary Glitter and "kiddy treats".

In an email for children's theatre and plays, the ecommerce giant featured the faces of two young boys along with the heading "DOING IT FOR THE KIDS".

The email read: "Like Gary Glitter in a sweet shop, you too can have your pick of kiddy treats in London's theatre world. If you don't know what to do with your lovely sprogs, get them off the X-Box and into the theatre. These shows will definitely be their cup of Ribena..."

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled that the reference to Glitter, a registered sex offender, in an ad for children's theatre was "likely to cause serious or widespread offence".

Gary Glitter, real name Paul Gadd, was convicted in 1997 in the UK for possession of indecent images of children. Earlier this month a judge in Vietnam jailed him for three years for molesting two young girls.

A spokesman for lastminute.com said: "We regret that our recent newsletter has caused offence, and would like to reassure our customers that it has been withdrawn as of immediate affect... We aim to create advertising which makes us stand out, however, on this occasion we realise that there has been an error in our judgement, and the email was misguided and inappropriate." ®

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