Wicked campervans’ tendency to offend Australian women is nothing new. But the company’s latest statement, which appears to dismiss those women as “self-righteous” and “humour-impaired”, may take the cake.
If you’re a parent in Australia — or indeed, any person who doesn’t love seeing overtly sexist phrases displayed in giant letters on Australian roads — you no doubt remember the social media campaign last year targeting Wicked campervans’ slogans.
Those slogans included such charmers as “fat chicks are harder to kidnap,” “I can already imagine the gaffa tape on your mouth” and “Inside every princess is a little slut who wants to try it just once”.
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The campaign to remove these slogans, started by Sydney mother and teacher Paula Orbea, attracted more than 127,000 supporters via a Change.org petition — and when Wicked finally apologised, and committed to removing all misogynistic slogans from their vans within six months, the campaign was declared a victory in July 2014.
Well, Wicked didn’t honour that agreement. Over the next few months, the following vans with similarly degrading and disturbing statements were snapped on Australian roads, as blog Questions for Us reports:
Today, we can report some good news: In light of Wicked’s refusal to honour its promise, travel guide giant Lonely Planet has removed mention of the vans from its upcoming Australian travel guide.
A spokesperson for Lonely Planet — which is the largest travel guide company in the world — confirmed to Mamamia: “the listing for Wicked Campers has been removed from the next (18th) edition of Lonely Planet Australia, which is set for release this November”.
The company also declared on Twitter that it takes discrimination matters seriously and has flagged Wicked’s online listing to the editorial team.
Kudos, Lonely Planet.
In less gratifying news, however, Wicked’s CEO John Webb has issued a new media statement about the use of its slogans — and the documents’ condescending, dismissive tone is causing offence all over again.
The statement refers to being forced to employ of a team of “monkeys” to satisfy “the whims and wishes of the humour-inept, self-righteous moral majority” following the Change.org petition.
It also threatens to prosecute anyone painting over the offending slogans.
Ms Orbea is now seeking to push for legislation that would hold companies like Wicked Campers, who breach advertising standards, accountable via monetary penalties.
Wicked’s CEO John Webb, as well as Wicked’s marketing team, have not responded to Mamamia’s requests for comment about its press release.
Stay classy, Wicked.
Some more controversial Wicked slogans:
If you want these messages removed for good, leave a message on Wicked Campervans’ Facebook page. And complain to the Advertising Standards Bureau.
Top Comments
There is a wicked vans depot around the corner from us. Always a long line of young European tourists , most seem to be women, wandering down from the station to pickup their vans. Do not know if they know about the slogans before they hire, but wicked vans have been around a long while and I guess they know what they are buying.
Repulsive and deplorable. I hope they go out of business. What a bunch of arseholes.