Cape Town - The creative director at the advertising agency responsible for Nando's advertising is peeved at the news that South Africa's main broadcasters have refused to air the fast food chain's latest advertisement.
The ad in question, which deals with xenophobia, has been pulled from SABC, DStv, M-Net and e.tv.
Black River FC advertising agency is responsible for Nando's advertising, and the agency's executive creative director, Ahmed Tilly, is saddened by the turn of events.
"It's very sad and actually quite worrying that broadcasters decide what people see," said Tilly to Channel24.
"Way beyond the ad, it speaks to freedom of expression. The ad preaches diversity and is a topic on the lips of all South Africans.
"It shows how ridiculous xenophobes are."
Complaints
Tilly said the broadcasters made the call to ban the advertisement even though "there wasn't a single complaint about the ad".
However, Elizabeth Moepya at the Advertising Standards Authority of South Africa confirmed to Channel24 that the organisation had indeed received "some" complaints about the Nando's ad.
"Some complaints have been received; they are still under assessment.
"We will hopefully have them resolved today," said Moepya late on Tuesday.
Attempts to contact Quinton Cronje at Nando's on Tuesday were unsuccessful.
Watch the Nando's diversity ad here.
The ad in question, which deals with xenophobia, has been pulled from SABC, DStv, M-Net and e.tv.
Black River FC advertising agency is responsible for Nando's advertising, and the agency's executive creative director, Ahmed Tilly, is saddened by the turn of events.
"It's very sad and actually quite worrying that broadcasters decide what people see," said Tilly to Channel24.
"Way beyond the ad, it speaks to freedom of expression. The ad preaches diversity and is a topic on the lips of all South Africans.
"It shows how ridiculous xenophobes are."
Complaints
Tilly said the broadcasters made the call to ban the advertisement even though "there wasn't a single complaint about the ad".
However, Elizabeth Moepya at the Advertising Standards Authority of South Africa confirmed to Channel24 that the organisation had indeed received "some" complaints about the Nando's ad.
"Some complaints have been received; they are still under assessment.
"We will hopefully have them resolved today," said Moepya late on Tuesday.
Attempts to contact Quinton Cronje at Nando's on Tuesday were unsuccessful.
Watch the Nando's diversity ad here.