Opponents to a racy River North billboard would not let the controversy blow over, and as of Tuesday, the raunchy ad starring an ex-porn star best known as one of Charlie Sheen's "goddesses" has been removed.
The naughty ad came down at the request of Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd), reports DNAinfo Chicago.
"It was a very basic conversation," Reilly told DNAinfo Tuesday, noting that he had reason to believe the company behind the ad was compensated for its early removal. "I said I can't make him take it down, but I'd appreciate it if you'd be a good neighbor."
The eyeball-grabbing ad sent tongues wagging with its saucy slogan that read "Because the best job is a b**w job." The billboard went up Feb. 13 at the intersection of Clark Street and Ontario Avenue.
The outdoor ad had raised the ire of several residents and business owners in the area, with DNAinfo reporting the day after the ad's installation that Portillo's restaurant found the ad's content "disgusting." The restaurant had particular gripe with the billboard, which stood directly over the hot dog joint's 100 W Ontario outpost.
"We don't own the sign, and the owner thinks it's disgusting," said Patty Sullivan, spokeswoman for Portillo's, told DNAinfo last week. "I don't think there's anything we can do about it."
When asked about the billboard after it went up last week, the Chicago Sun-Times reports Mayor Rahm Emanuel seemed flustered by its content, but added that while he had yet to see it for himself, the ad would likely pass muster under the First Amendment.
It has been taken down less than a week since Fox Chicago first reported the news, noting in its broadcast that the ad was clearly visible from several kid-friendly restaurants including Portillo's and the Rock N Roll McDonald's in the busy River North entertainment district.
Ironically, more subtle than the gag line was what the billboard actually advertised: an adult hookup site called ArrangementFinders (site NSFW), which connects wealthy men with sexy (and ostensibly not-so-wealthy) women.