Here’s How People Are Reacting To An Ad In London Asking Women If They Are “Beach Body Ready”

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An advertisement in the London underground has recently been met with a lot of backlash.

The ad, made by a company called Protein World, features a model clad in a barely-there bikini, and asks commuters, “Are You Beach Body Ready?”

https://twitter.com/jessiemoncrieff/status/589423008948846592

Since then, many critics have spoken up against its sexist nature. And they have taken to “improving” the ads with their own, more body-positive, messages.

https://twitter.com/DoSomethingUK/status/591596868825669632

The Advertising Standards Authority is reported to have received 216 complaints and are currently assessing the campaign if it is necessary to take further action.

Protesters deem the ad as “offensive, irresponsible and harmful because it promotes an unhealthy body image”.

Angry Londoners took to Twitter to display their redesigned masterpieces.

Thus, the hashtag, #EachBodysReady was born.

A Facebook page was also set up under the name EachBodysReady, where users posted photos showing their support.

People of all genders participated in the cause.

Two brave young women posed beside the ad in their bikinis to show that abs are not a requirement to be “beach body ready”.

A Change.Org petition was made to take down these posters, with over 49,000 signatures and counting. It says:

“Protein World is directly targeting individuals, aiming to make them feel physically inferior to the unrealistic body image of the bronzed model, in order to sell their product.”

Many ran to social media to lambast the company responsible for the ads, Protein World.

http://twitter.com/Londonliving82/status/590057864141660161

The company responded with what can only be regarded as an aggressive approach.

Using the hashtag #getagrip, Protein World’s official Twitter acount tweeted: “here to motivate, not commiserate”.

One Twitter user, a comedienne Juliette Burton, received pretty harsh comebacks.

While another woman was told to “grow up”.

CEO of Protein World, Arjun Seth, responded to a critic with a now-deleted tweet:

But regardless of who is right or wrong, the main point is summed up beautifully by this woman:

“If my body is on a beach, then it is ready. Thank you very much.”

The ‘war’ between protesters and the British company’s PR team does not seem to be drawing to a close. Which side will back down? Looks like we’ll just have to wait and see.