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One bus company, Keolis, confirmed it was pulling the ads for the website, particularly in the upmarket city of Versailles near the French capital, saying it had received more than 500 complaints in a single week — compared with 900 it normally receives in a year.
The advert features a half-eaten apple with the tagline “the premier site for extra-marital encounters designed by women.”
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The Paris-based Associations of Catholic Families group also filed a court complaint on Wednesday against the site’s publisher, Black Divine, “challenging the legality of the site and its advertisements,” their lawyer said.
“We don’t understand the exaggerated reaction, especially since we have been advertising for five years,” said Solene Paillet, a spokeswoman for the site.
“The campaign carried a very neutral message and was in no way shocking.”
She called the decision “backward”, pointing out that infidelity has not been an offence in France since 1975.
In the city of Rambouillet, conservative mayor Marc Robert led the charge against the adverts after being alerted by residents.
“I consider this advert a clear incitement to disrespect the civil code, which stipulates mutual respect, fidelity, help and assistance between spouses,” he said in a letter to one bus company.
What a brilliant out of the box idea – where they whole world is turning extreme right it’s refreshing to see the possibilities to be had while providing a service to African countries. We get bashed from pillar to post by politicians and inquiry after inquiry and sometimes lose track of what makes Irish people great.
@Paul: So a good news story about an African country gets dragged down by someone virtue signalling their hatred of all things right wing. IMO it’s a great story as it shows what people can do for themselves if given the help and resources to get started, One needs seed capital to participate in capitalism, these credit unions appear to be doing the right thing in getting economic activity going. Like many in the West they too wanted and have opted for change in government, here’s hoping the new guy can govern well and support these business people.
@Paul: Capitalism at its best, private individuals and organisations taking matters into their own hands instead of waiting for the government to do something about it.
My Dad worked with the Irish League of Credit Unions in the Gambia to help train local people and set up Credit Unions in 1998 and again in 2000. I’ve sent him this link. It’ll make his day.
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