Humour or harassment? The debate surrounding LekkeSlaap's latest ad

WHAT was meant to be a humorous commercial featuring Tali, a well-known influencer from Tali's Wedding, filming herself at an airport while promoting online booking platform LekkeSlaap's travel deals, was found by the Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB) to be offensive.

- ZELDA VENTER

The advertising watchdog determined that the ad crossed the line between humor and harassment of women.

This happened because overly eager LekkeSlaap fan Hannes, in the commercial, keeps following her at the airport and commenting on what she says. This occurs despite a visibly annoyed Tali trying to get away from him.

The commercial shows Tali speaking to her social media audience on her phone. It starts with her saying: "Howzit, guys, I am travelling with Lekkeslaap. I've just come from a game lodge in the Kruger."

A man sitting in the row of chairs behind her turns around and leans into the shot, saying, "Kruger! Man, I love that plek."

Looking put out, she walks around the airport, but he keeps on following her, making comments.

The commercial sparked complaints, in which it was said that although the comments made by the male character are humorous, these comments are made at the cost of a person who has expressed their discomfort and desire to be left alone.