Storm over Teazers billboard

2009-09-30 09:09

Magdel Fourie

Johannesburg - A Teazers billboard advertisement which states that the strip club's dancers "don't need any gender tests", has nothing whatsoever to do with Caster Semenya, according to Teazers owner Lolly Jackson.

He said the campaign was designed to make it clear that Teazers employees are "100% woman".

An official complaint was submitted to the Advertising Standards Authority of South Africa (ASA) regarding the Teazers billboard in Rivonia road in Sandton.

The billboard shows a naked woman, lying in a provocative position on her back, with the wording, "No gender tests necessary" over part of the woman's body.

A storm of controversy broke out regarding Semenya's gender during her participation in the World Athletics Championships in Berlin, where she won a gold medal in the 800m for women on August 19.

'In bad taste'

According to Jackson, the giant billboards were erected about three weeks ago, and the order for them to be put up was given two weeks before that.

"It has nothing to do with Semenya. It was also never intended to have any reference to Semenya.

"Long before all of that, I'd started thinking about the ad. It just turned out completely different, because the people high up in Athletics South Africa lied to the country. That was when everything was taken way out of proportion."

ASA communications manager Corné Koch confirmed that a complaint was submitted to them on September 19. According to the complaint, the billboard is "in bad taste" and it "objectifies" women.

The complaint is currently being investigated. A finding will be released within about 30 days, Koch said.

Jackson has already provided the ASA with a copy of the billboard.

- Beeld