Body-Positive Video Game Ad Blocked in UK for 'Objectifying Women'

When some people speak, it makes you question the wisdom of having a First Amendment — but then you quickly return to your senses, between there’s always someone out there thinking the same thing about you.

In the United Kingdom, however, they have no such protections on free speech. For example, they just cracked down on overweight women in commercials. Or something:

The U.K.’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned a video-game ad featuring plus-sized models wearing swimsuits on the grounds that it “sexually objectified women.”

In case you’re not familiar with U.K. law, its ASA has the power to demand that any ad be removed for a broad range of subjective reasons.

…

The ad that’s been banned this time was a promotion for the game Mobile Strike and features women in swimsuits playing the game on their phones.

“The ASA noted that the images of the women wearing swimwear bore no relation to the product being advertised — a combat-themed mobile game app,” the ASA stated …

“We also noted that in some of the scenes, the mannerisms of the women were seductive or sexually-charged.”

Yet another example of how your speech is too precious to be left in the hands of government, because the government that thinks it can make society better by controlling speech is necessarily populated by idiots.

Mobile games have the advantage of being able to be played literally anywhere. That also includes while you’re sunbathing. In this case, the ad used women who aren’t built like supermodels because, well, most women aren’t. As for “seductive or sexually-charged” mannerisms, you be the judge:

Hmm.

So what would have happened if it had been three dudes with beer bellies instead of women in bikinis?

Frankly, this situation makes me proud to be an American. Yes, our dedication to free speech means we have to let racists speak freely, but it also means we don’t silence people for trying to do what they think is the right thing just because the person granted censorship powers thinks differently.

Don’t like the commercial? Then don’t play the game.

God bless the United States of America.