Déjà vu for the brand?
An Yves Saint-Laurent's Belle d'Opium perfume ad has been banned because the woman briefly points to her arm. Sources say that thirteen complaints were filed with Britain's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) claiming the ad somehow encourages drug use.
Could the fact that the voiceover whispers seductively, "I am your addiction. I am Belle D'Opium," have something to do with the complaints?
Explaining the decision, the ASA said, "In the context of the ad, Belle running her finger down her inner arm could be seen to simulate the injection of opiates into the body."
The original Opium fragrance by Yves Saint-Laurent debuted in 1977, when the name and the image provoked drama and controversy.
– Michelyn Camen, Editor-In-Chief