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Sri Lankan Gym Compared Women to a Barrel, Receives Backlash on Social Media For Sexist Ad
The controversial hoarding of OSMO Fitness made people on social media seeth with anger and stirred up a huge storm online as it body-shamed women.
A woman is judged at every instance irrespective of her dress, her complexion and her body type. Sexist and offensive remarks in advertisements often go unnoticed but this time around a Sri Lankan gym did the unthinkable when it compared women to a barrel. A shocking billboard put up by a gym in Colombo, Sri Lanka, featured a barrel next to a caption that read, “ This is no shape for a woman.” Apparently, they might have thought this will provoke women to take up memberships but they did not realize that this will receive a ton of backlash and flak on social media by netizens alike. The ad is making people fume with disgust and in anger over the sexist ad.
Every day when we log on to social media we get to hear instances of body shaming and women being slut-shamed. It is not only sexual harassment, crime, violence that plagues and hounds women around the world but also lurid remarks, eve teasing, and body shaming. The controversial hoarding of OSMO Fitness made people on social media seeth with anger and stirred up a huge storm online. Photos of the billboard started doing the rounds of the internet and people slammed the gym for such a sexist and distasteful advertisement. Bata Pakistan Issues Public Apology After Receiving Severe Criticism For Its Sexist Advertisement
The distasteful advertisement by OSMO Fitness
Sample a few tweets from the Twitter users
A new level of body shaming
Body shaming taken to a new level #bloodydisgraceful #lka #srilanka pic.twitter.com/m8clLWXKlO
— Shanghi R (@ShanghiShanmu) January 18, 2018
Body-Shaming women
Osmo Fitness in #Colombo #SriLanka seems to be mastering one thing quite openly: Body-shaming women. pic.twitter.com/SUDnmdG4cI
— Aruni Abeyesundere (@aruni_t) January 18, 2018
Being fit should be the goal
Even the ‘barrel shape’ person might be healthier than the one having the most preferred shape! Prime purpose of exercise is to get fit!! https://t.co/3BKj2eazdo
— Ahmed maqsoom (@ahmed_maqsoom) January 19, 2018
Hopefully no women will join the gym
#SriLanka is taking the piss with this seriously. There is no other country that loves to comment on women who are a bit curvy in a negative way. Keep your thoughts to yourself, don’t hurt feelings. I bloody hope no women join this gym! #BoycottOsmo https://t.co/mPTyZw6VJb
— Sarah Mishealle (@sawuh_93) January 26, 2018
Sri Lankan women take on body shaming
Well the ad was nor designed for women who are fine being barrel shaped; it is for those who desire more than being something roll down a hill.
Sri Lanka women take on ‘body shaming’ ad https://t.co/TJdlp6lmUN
— Left of Sanity (@LeftofSanity) January 26, 2018
Barrel ladies
You rule! What a disgusting sign how about we don’t put expectations on ANY woman’s body, I think Osmo secretly is into Barrel ladies though. 😉 pic.twitter.com/8WuQncOSmj
— Stranger Still (@StrangerStill) January 27, 2018
Disgusting ad
Disgusting-the ad and the mindset! Sri Lanka women take on ‘body shaming’ barrel ad https://t.co/i2clva0T6U
— Elephant Man (@ghantahaathi) January 26, 2018
The Sri Lankan people’s hue-and-cry reached Deputy Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, Harsha de Silva, who intervened and asserted on Twitter that he would not tolerate such a sexist ad in Kotte. The banner was later covered by a black cloth overnight.
Sexism will not be tolerated
I asked the Colombo MC Commissioner to remove this unapproved offensive hoarding. I would not tolerate this in Kotte. #SriLanka pic.twitter.com/m1gUBEaItJ
— Harsha de Silva (@HarshadeSilvaMP) January 18, 2018
Sexist ads have been taken down
My friend Chamitha sent this to me today.
The sexist hoarding by @osmofitness and Blue Mountain has been taken down.#LKA #SriLanka pic.twitter.com/Rxee7fCVCo— Munza Mushtaq (@munza14) January 19, 2018
No space for Sexism
Ha ha look at this! #SriLanka women’s rights movement has put this up on that space! Glad I was able to help. pic.twitter.com/xSo0iKf9Mu
— Harsha de Silva (@HarshadeSilvaMP) January 19, 2018
Bravo to determination
It’s amazing sometimes what a little determination can achieve. #everydaysexism #systemicsexism #notosexism #lka70 pic.twitter.com/P0LxqFhgRd
— ThyagiRuwanpathirana (@ThyagiR) January 19, 2018
Achieve what is right
We must never let go of DETERMINATION to achieve what is right. https://t.co/yxHPuCyd9l
— peacemother1 (@peacemother1) January 19, 2018
Women should be healthy
If they were so concerned about the health of women they could have created a campaign around helping women feel their best. It was poorly thought out, derogatory, sexist & a cheap shot at a demographic that keeps being told that looks matter more than well-being and achievement.
— Nicole (@nicamsterdam) January 26, 2018
Osmo later apologized and clarified that the advertisement was not intended to degrade, offend or insult anyone and as reported by Daily Star the ad has been withdrawn and removed.
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