Chicago takes the dare with controversial ad of soldier and Muslim woman

 

Marsha Hunt---Chicago sets its own pace when it comes to what is allowed for advertising, because a controversial billboard rejected by Los Angeles and New York is making its way to the windy city soon, and it's sure to make residents concerned, considering the subject matter and style.

SnoreStop's billboard offers a photo of an American soldier embracing a Muslim woman to show that a throat spray can reduce snoring in such a way that it can keep the most unusual couples together romantically.

A company employee, Christian de Rivel, maintains the company does not shrink from controversy, maintaining, “Snoring is an equal opportunity offender, SnoreStop is the equal opportunity provider,” he said. “There is no nudity or bigotry or hostility in our #betogether campaign. In fact, we are specifically and aggressively promoting diversity, equality and harmony.”

The ad is scheduled to go up tomorrow. New York rejected the same billboard in Times Square because of what officials considered its “sensitive nature” and “uncomfortable imagery.”

From time to time other companies push the envelope with advertising. Last year a website listed the 10 most controversial print advertising. Toyota, for example, showed a picture of its Prius near a riverbank, with a man dragging a body out of the trunk.