Paddy Power
has decided to destroy an ad featuring convicted sex offender Rolf Harris, after receiving more than a few heckles on social media.
The advert, with a slogan “The only Aussie we don’t want to get out,” was to be used in the Ashes cricket series between Australia and England but Paddy Power became concerned that it may have “crossed the line.” Although the mobile ad didn’t actually make it to the grounds, it was photographed outside an industrial estate and released by an unauthorized tweet.
Australian TV personality Rolf Harris is currently in a U.K. prison for a string of sexual assaults against underage girls and has been reportedly writing a song accusing his victims of being after his money.
“We decided that, on balance, although potentially amusing for the cricket fan, the sentiment of the advert crossed the line and had the potential to cause offence,” said Paddy Power spokesman. “It’s not often Paddy Power make this kind of decision but in this instance we believe we made the right call not to run it.
“We can confirm that we will be destroying the advert and it will never be released in public.”
Meanwhile, Roy Keane’s legal action against Paddy Power over the firm infringing his image rights when they use his face over Mel Gibson’s William Wallace character from the classic movie Braveheart will be heard by the Commercial Court.
The suit was admitted to the Commercial Court on Monday morning and will return before the court in November.
