Ad: Racism in soccer. Controversy: Created by European soccer fans against racism, this ad uses a partially-obscured swastika to make its (very effective) point. (CLM/BBDO, Paris)

Ad: Budweiser ‘fish’. Controversy: This ad for Budweiser beer was attacked by animal rights advocates for encouraging disrespect and abuse against animals. (Courtesy Budweiser/Inferno)

Ad: Popular Science. Controversy: With its “There’s any easier way to learn’ ads, Popular Science magazine went for shock value to attract new readers. (Courtesy Popular Science)

Ad: Popular Science. Controversy: With its “There’s any easier way to learn’ ads, Popular Science magazine went for shock value to attract new readers. (Courtesy Popular Science)

Ad: Popular Science. Controversy: With its “There’s any easier way to learn’ ads, Popular Science magazine went for shock value to attract new readers. (Courtesy Popular Science)

Ad: ‘Raid. Kill Them dead.’ Controversy: Trying to be clever with a play on the Korsakov piece, Raid’s targeting of the bumblebee was considered to be in poor taste given the noted decrease in the bee population. (Courtesy Draft FCB/Lisbon)

Ad: Sangria Kodomo no nomimono children’s drink. Controversy: Sangaria started their line of fake alcoholic drinks for kids with Kodomo no nomimono (Children’s drink). The beer, flavoured like apple juice, foams at the top when poured into a glass. (Courtesy Sangaria Japan)

 

Ad: Sangria Kodomo no nomimono children’s drink. Controversy: Sangaria started their line of fake alcoholic drinks for kids with Kodomo no nomimono (Children’s drink). The beer, flavoured like apple juice, foams at the top when poured into a glass. (Courtesy Sangaria Japan)

Ad: ‘Killer Heels’. Controversy: Banned for obvious reasons in the UK because it trivialized violence.

Ad: Shaw’s Chocolates. Controversy: Who knew chocolates could be that edgy? Shaw’s Chocolates pushes the limits with a burst belt, bound Easter bunny and a cavity-ridden mouth x-ray. (Courtesy Theory Advertising)

Ad: Shaw’s Chocolates. Controversy: Who knew chocolates could be that edgy? Shaw’s Chocolates pushes the limits with a burst belt, bound Easter bunny and a cavity-ridden mouth x-ray. (Courtesy Theory Advertising)

Ad: Shaw’s Chocolates. Controversy: Who knew chocolates could be that edgy? Shaw’s Chocolates pushes the limits with a burst belt, bound Easter bunny and a cavity-ridden mouth x-ray. (Courtesy Theory Advertising)

Ad: Vandol Cream. Controversy: Perhaps a tad too graphic for North America, this ad for vitamin cream in the Philippines ran with the slogan “For less irritable babies. Vitamins A + D - Vandol Cream”. (Courtesy DM9 Jayme Syfu)

Ad: Fayreform lingerie. Controversy: By adding humour to its advertising campaign, Fayreform lingerie attempted to deflect those who might criticise the company. (Courtesy Saatchi & Saatchi, New Zealand)

Ad: Fayreform lingerie. Controversy: By adding humour to its advertising campaign, Fayreform lingerie attempted to deflect those who might criticise the company. (Courtesy Saatchi & Saatchi, New Zealand)

Ad: Fayreform lingerie. Controversy: By adding humour to its advertising campaign, Fayreform lingerie attempted to deflect those who might criticise the company. (Courtesy Saatchi & Saatchi, New Zealand)

Ad: Movie poster for ‘Wristcutters’. Controversy: Glamourizing suicide is bound to be problematic and especially so since this flick is also supposed to be a love story.

Ad: U.K. airline Ryanair calendar. Controversy: Harkening back to the age of the ’sexy stewardess’, Ryanair’s ads are bound to get attention, including Miss April as shown here. (Courtesy Ryanair)

Ad: Chinese Disney underwear billboard. Controversy: The billboard displays a child’s head grated onto a women’s body and was removed soon after it had gone up. (Courtesy consumerist.com)

Ad: The power of Pine Sol. Controversy: In the photo on the left, the nun has soiled knees because the floors aren’t clean. In the photo on the right, the floors are shiny and clean and so is the nun’s habit. (Courtesy Dieste Harmel)

Ad: Ant-tobacco/smoking campaign in new Zealand. Controversy: Obvious comparison in look and wording to September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City. (Courtesy DDB New Zealand)

Ad: Change Lingerie. Controversy: The objective of the ad was to launch CHANGE Lingerie in Saudi Arabia. The ads’ used censorship in Saudi Arabia to focus on the product line and to transform censorship into art. (Courtesy Ogilvy)

Ad: Change Lingerie. Controversy: The objective of the ad was to launch CHANGE Lingerie in Saudi Arabia. The ads’ used censorship in Saudi Arabia to focus on the product line and to transform censorship into art. (Courtesy Ogilvy)

Ad: Change Lingerie. Controversy: The objective of the ad was to launch CHANGE Lingerie in Saudi Arabia. The ads’ used censorship in Saudi Arabia to focus on the product line and to transform censorship into art. (Courtesy Ogilvy)