Someone Complained to Ad Standards That a Diablo 4 Billboard Reminded Them of the ‘Hell’ of Lockdown
Advertising standards officials have dismissed a complaint about a Diablo 4 “Welcome to Hell” billboard displayed in Melbourne.
The unnamed complainant contacted the Australian Ad Standards Community Panel to say the billboard “brought back memories of the hell of the two years of lockdowns in Melbourne”.
The person also accused the advert of causing offense to Christians and Catholics, and “promoting evil and satanic paraphernalia”.
lol someone complained to Ad Standards that the Diablo ad reminded them of lockdown?? pic.twitter.com/osqdpLYcms
“The words 'welcome to Hell Melbourne' as part of the advertisement for this game and a picture of a devil are offensive to me as a Christian,” reads the complaint.
“The imagery is also inappropriate for my children to see and has already given them nightmares. The imagery is frightening to children as the demonic looking character is staring at the camera, creating the effect of staring at the observer. It is located in an prominent position beside a busy freeway where children have a clear view of the very large Billboard.
“I feel it's inappropriate to show such disgusting and disturbing content on a billboard where children are seeing this on a daily basis. It has no context and for an adult of 43, I found it unsettling.
“It’s scary for young children who see it, but even as an adult it brought back memories of the hell of the two years of lockdowns in Melbourne. The language and words used are not necessary to get across the message about the release of this game.”
As you’d expect, the Ad Standards Community Panel dismissed the complaint, in hilarious fashion.
On the point about religion, the Panel pointed to the comma between “hell” and “Melbourne”, stressing the ad is not saying the
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