Two unrelated adverts which referred to Jimmy Savile have been ruled harmful and offensive following complaints that they made light of allegations of sexual abuse against the disgraced TV presenter.
An email for clothing company DirtySmart read “Choose your fate” with arrows pointing to a cartoon image of Savile.
One person complained the ad was offensive and irresponsible because it made light of the allegations under investigation.
Another email for Extreme Publishing read “How’s about that then” above a black and white image of Savile wearing underwear and smoking a cigar with a superimposed copy of a magazine in his hand.
Two complainants challenged whether the ad was offensive and irresponsible in view of recent media coverage surrounding the abuse allegations.
DirtySmart acknowledged some people may have found the cartoon image of Savile distasteful but they considered it would not cause widespread offence.
Extreme Publishing, trading as TBM Magazine, said it did not intend to offend or upset anyone.
The Advertising Standards Authority said both had been told to prepare adverts with a sense of responsibility to customers and society.