A Poster For Demi Lovato’s “Holy Fvck” Album Was Banned From Being Displayed In The UK Because It Was Offensive To Christians

Humanity may not agree on much, but one thing lots of us can probably come together on is that Demi Lovato’s soggy pad of a personality is utterly exhausting. The assault of her shrill voice on our ears and the useless causes she attempts to champion–like sugar-free cookies existing and not calling aliens “aliens”–are offensive to the sensibilities of many. And in Demi’s most recent attempt to be 2006-style edgy, she coined her newest album (and what might be her final tour) “Holy Fvck,” as in “holy fuck is she STILL talking?” But in true Demi fashion, she rubbed people the wrong way again, this time with a poster that showed her casually clad in light bondage while lying on a crucifix bed. BBC News says some Christians in the U.K. were displeased, and the poster just got banned from being displayed in most public places there.

“Poot” Lovato lazily sought to do what Madonna already did by using symbols of religiosity (a la “Like A Prayer”) to sell albums.  Madonna’s provocative execution of religious imagery caused a pretty big stir back in the day, but so far, Demi only made four people annoyed enough to file complaints with Britain’s advertising watchdog, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). However, it looks like four was enough because the ASA decided the combination of the poster being where children could see it, the word “fvck” being on it, and Demi lying on a cross was enough to rule that the poster was offensive to Christians and should not be displayed, even though Demi’s label said the imagery was ~art~ and not meant to cause offense.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said it had received complaints relating to the “image of Ms Lovato bound up in a bondage-style outfit whilst lying on a mattress shaped like a crucifix”.

The title of the singer’s new album clearly alluded to a swear word and, together with the image, linked sexuality to a sacred symbol, the UK’s advertising watchdog found. The singer was “in a position with her legs bound to one side which was reminiscent of Christ on the cross,” it added.

Together with the album title, which is a play on a swear word, the ASA found the poster was “likely to be viewed as linking sexuality to the sacred symbol of the crucifix and the crucifixion”. This was likely to cause serious offence to Christians, it said.

The poster received four complaints….it was removed after four days.

The ASA ruled that the poster must not appear again in the form complained of unless it was suitably targeted. It told Universal Music Operations Ltd to ensure their adverts did not cause serious or widespread offence in future.

Polydor Records said it was artwork designed to promote the album and did not believe it to be offensive.

No one filed a complaint about this urine-soiled mess of a mattress causing the heaves, but I’m considering it. Here’s the poster:

A raunchy poster for @ddlovato's upcoming album Holy Fvck gets banned by ad regulator. Find out why 👀👉https://t.co/TlNNkizW6E

Do you think this ad is too controversial?#DemiLovato #HolyFvck #Advertising pic.twitter.com/x3b7Ozn1g8

— The Drum (@TheDrum) January 11, 2023

Come on, Demi; the public’s pleas of “get off the cross already, we need the wood!” after each Lovato-led unnecessary outrage du jour didn’t mean you should park your ass on this pillowy cross instead!

Pic: Jordan Hinton/ABACA/INSTARimages/Cover Images