Paddy Power's Controversial Oscar Pistorius Ad Pulled After Record Complaints

U.K.'s advertising watchdog has ordered Paddy Power "to pull its controversial ad" featuring Paralympian Oscar Pistorius "after a wave of protest has seen it become the most complained-about campaign ever," according to Mark Sweney of the London GUARDIAN. The advert shows a photograph of Pistorius superimposed on a statue of an Oscar award. Next to it, the ad states "It's Oscar Time. Money back if he walks. We will refund all losing bets on the Oscar Pistorius trial if he is found not guilty." The Advertising Standards Authority has so far received 5,200 complaints about the press ads, which "offer refunds for losing bets" if Pistorius is found not guilty of the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. The wave of complaints "has in part been fuelled by an online petition on Change.org" which has attracted more than 122,000 signatures (GUARDIAN, 3/5).