Crown Paints advert receives dozens of complaints

Crown Paints is under scrutiny for their most recent advertising campaign entitled “Hannah & Dave”, which has received dozens of complaints and a lot of backlash on social media.

The advert, part of Crown Paints’ “Life Stories” series, features a number of singers who represent the paint on Hannah’s paint roller, singing a song about how Hannah and Dave got together and are now preparing to have a baby.

The lyrics in this song have caused complaints, including from comic Jenny Eclair, who suggests the advert eludes to the possibility that Hannah has “conned a man into fatherhood”.

The full lyrics in question, with the controversial lyrics highlighted, are shown below;

4 years ago, Hannah met Dave,

What’s the chance of finding a soulmate at an illegal rave…

Must be low.

But there you go.

They dated for a while and got a place together,

Dave said “shall we have a baby?” and she said “nah never”

And that was fine…

At least for a time.

And then one day out of the blue, she stopped thinking no,

She threw herself at Dave and said “C’mon let’s go!”

He said, “steady on! I’m halfway through a scone!”.

And now the baby’s coming and they don’t know what it is,

Hannah’s hoping for a girl, Dave’s just hoping that it’s his.

And they’re happy the spare room is no longer grey,

Because there’s a baby on the way.

There’s a baby on the way.

There’s a baby on the way.

There’s a baby on the way.

In a recently made statement, Crown Paints have said:

[The ads were] “intended to be a humorous celebration of special life moments that prompt people to paint their homes, in this case focusing on Hannah and Dave, a happy couple expecting a baby together”.

“Whilst the ad has been broadly well received, we appreciate that people have differing views on humour and we apologise if any of the lyrics have caused offence”

The ASA (advertising standards authority) have said they have received 58 complaints so far, and are currently investigating whether there are grounds for investigation.

The number of complaints received is a lot less than what we’ve recorded from the most complained TV adverts of all time in the UK, but the ASA does take every complaint seriously so it will be interesting to hear their decision on the Crown Paints ad.

What are your thoughts on the Crown Paints advert? Harmless humour or full of bad taste? Let us know in the comments.