They must have rappelled over the side to write this, or maybe it was written from behind the ad.
Update. I was interviewed by a reporter from ABC News on Thursday:
"It’s kind of shocking," said Michael Natale, who edits a blog that writes about the East Village in New York City, where this particular ad was located. "But it still doesn’t offend me."
Other posters felt differently, writing that the ads prompt them to "shy away" from the brand."
Sex May Sell, but Some Say Ads Go too Far
I really don’t remember saying exactly that to her. I did say that I do enjoy seeing young women in ads but that this one was particularly pornographic. And that I was more interested in the fact that people are talking back to ads than what this particular person had to say. And she could have thrown the name of my blog in there, damn it.


Comments (12)
thankfully they’ve gotten the message and replaced it with this wholesome shot of a puppy…
Hi, I’m an admin for a group called American Apparel - Official, and we’d love to have your photo added to the group.
dude
pretty sure that gawker’s new ‘jezebel’ blog has been using this shot w/o credit.
Adam, can you give me a link. I scrolled through that blog all the way to this past summer and didn’t see anything.
BTW, It’s funny that "that Vanessa person" still has it on her Flickr page and did not respond to my message.
follow this clicky and scroll down a bit
jezebel.com/tag/american-apparel/
Thanks Adam, you have sharp eyes. I’ve written to the editor.
I’d contact flickr to get "Vanessa"’s stolen shot taken down.
Yeah, you’re right rbb. I’ve certainly given her enough time to do it herself.
whatliesinthedark is a really creepy nickname. have you ever raped anybody?
Possitions like that don’t lead to rape. People treating men like animals incapable with thinking like a human being is why there is rape.
If theres a bum hanging outside american apparel stores, maybe he saw this billboard and thought ‘hey, I wouldn’t mind seeing more of that’.
I don’t see how this is pornographic, shes attractive sure but shes not being particularly provocative. Looks more like shes trying to climb in a window, perhaps to steal some clothes from american apparel?
This is creepy.
The graffiti is provoking more of a response than the advert - and why? Because there’s nothing truly obscene about the advert, but that daubed-at-night comment is so very sinister.
Sure, the writer may consider the advert as too racy for their conservative tastes - and you may agree - but what, I ask, has what women wear got to do with rape?
While I think American Apparel’s use (on its website) of its staff as cutesy, half-naked models is verging into exploitative/porn territory (though the staff who pose obviously don’t agree - at least not about it being exploitative), I like this advert.