AN advertising campaign run by UK pay TV company Virgin media has been banned by advertising authorities for being offensive by implying that people with ginger hair were unattractive.

The press ad, for the show Dating in the Dark on the Virgin media-owned Living TV, ran with the line: “How do you spot a ginger in the dark?…Looks or personality, who wins?”

After several complaints, Virgin Media said the ad aimed to promote the premise of the show and to challenge our perceptions of attractiveness and encourage decisions based on personality as well as looks.

But the Advertising Standards Authority ruled that the ad suggested people with ginger hair were unattractive and banned it.

Is the director of the ASA a redhead, by any chance?

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