A new Ikea ad that shows a suburban couple being attacked by garden gnomes has prompted dozens of complaints from people who say the commercial is "frightening" and not suitable for children.
The commercial, in which a couple fights back against members of a violent gnome mob by somehow shattering them with garden hoses and hurling them against wooden fences, began airing on British television in April, UPI notes.
But the United Kingdom's Advertising Standards Authority, a non-governmental regulating organization, said it had received nearly 50 complaints from people who said the ad was offensive and violent and that it "encouraged anti-social behavior."
Ikea's response was both comical and dismissive.
Peter Wright, a marketing manager for Ikea's U.K. branch, told The Huffington Post the commercial was merely a "light-hearted" way of showing a family defying "the ultimate embodiment of everything that's tired and dreary about British gardens - the garden gnome."
"We can confirm no gnomes were harmed in the making of the advert, thanks to the brave stunt doubles and some clever post production," Wright said in an email.
Ikea did not comment on whether it would take any action in response to the complaints.
What do you think?
(h/t MSN)
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