Society for prevention of breast humor

Execs at the über-SUV-maker Land Rover had to pull a print ad in South Africa after the computer-manipulated photo managed to evoke charges of not only racism and sexism, but cultural and environmental insensitivity as well.

Get your news from a source that’s not owned and controlled by oligarchs. Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily.


Recent Must Reads

2/2 – Print it and they will kill you

2/1 – Russia frees scores of inmates

1/31 – Genes aren’t colorblind

1/30 – Gay TV shoved back in closet

An ELECTRONIC TELEGRAPH (UK) story reports that the ad featured a woman of the Himba tribe, located near the Namibia/Angola border, in traditional dress, which leaves the breasts bare. A Land Rover has just roared past her, causing her breasts to be pulled sideways in its powerful wake — the sideways-breast effect added by computers, of course.

Despite Land Rover’s claim that their focus groups thought it was funny, South Africa’s Advertising Standards Authority sided with women’s and human rights groups that found the ad insulting, along with others who feared the ad would encourage people to go tearing through the remote Himba homeland in their brand-new Land Rovers.

YOUR GIFT DOUBLES THROUGH FRIDAY

Right now, every dollar you give goes twice as far—but only until Friday’s midnight deadline. This is the moment to make your support count double.

In a climate where journalists face mounting pressure to back down, stay silent, or soften their reporting, Mother Jones refuses to flinch. We’re pushing back against intimidation and delivering fierce, independent journalism that holds power accountable—no matter who’s trying to silence us.

But here’s the reality: We’re a nonprofit newsroom with zero corporate backing and no financial cushion. We depend entirely on readers like you to fund the investigations that matter most.

Friday’s 2X match deadline is coming soon. We need you on the team right now. Please chip in and double your impact.

YOUR GIFT DOUBLES THROUGH FRIDAY

Right now, every dollar you give goes twice as far—but only until Friday’s midnight deadline. This is the moment to make your support count double.

In a climate where journalists face mounting pressure to back down, stay silent, or soften their reporting, Mother Jones refuses to flinch. We’re pushing back against intimidation and delivering fierce, independent journalism that holds power accountable—no matter who’s trying to silence us.

But here’s the reality: We’re a nonprofit newsroom with zero corporate backing and no financial cushion. We depend entirely on readers like you to fund the investigations that matter most.

Friday’s 2X match deadline is coming soon. We need you on the team right now. Please chip in and double your impact.

We Recommend

Latest

Sign up for our free newsletter

Subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.

Get our award-winning magazine

Save big on a full year of investigations, ideas, and insights.

Subscribe

Support our journalism

Help Mother Jones' reporters dig deep with a tax-deductible donation.

Donate