'Offensive' Harvey Nichols ad banned

An advert for Harvey Nichols showing a woman driver putting on lipstick just before mowing down a terrified man has been condemned as irresponsible and offensive.

The Advertising Standards Authority has now asked for the ad, which appeared in Vogue, Elle and Harpers & Queen, to be withdrawn.

In it, the driver is seen via the rear-view mirror applying lipstick while through the windscreen a pedestrian is shown crossing the road in front of the car, holding his hands up and looking at the driver.

A caption reads: "a Harvey Nichols Fashion Victim - 125 new lipsticks by Pout now available".

Complainants who contacted the advertising watchdog objected that the picture was irresponsible, because it showed unsafe driving, and was offensive to people who had been, or who knew people who had been, involved in road accidents.

The ASA agreed. It said: "The advertisers believed the scenario was obviously not real and said it was intended to be humorous. They said the lips in the mirror were enlarged and the man's expression was ridiculous and over-the-top.

"They said the car was not hitting the man."

However, the ASA added that because the photograph "showed a car in a dangerous and unwise situation, the advertisement was irresponsible" and was "likely to cause serious or widespread offence".