Lebanon adverts prove that ‘sex doesn’t sell’

Models in revealing clothes are likely to grab attention, mostly in the form of flirting or chat-up lines.

However, while one particular model posing for a Lebanese construction and development company managed to succeed in turning heads… it seems the heads were turned in the opposite direction.

For the past several days a number of Lebanese bloggers and members of the society posted several critical comments and blog posts relating to the recent campaign for the construction company.

Renowned blogger/author Nasri Attallah (of the famous blog “Our Man in Beirut”) commented on his Facebook saying “Because nothing says “professionalism” like using a stock photo of a porn star from 'Sexxxy Secretaries 6' for your outdoor advertising”.

Lebanon blogger Naziha Baassiri agrees with Nasri Attallah by saying “It uses the ever-so-reliable formula of a cleavage-baring woman and a loaded tagline.”

Advertising agencies have been in the hot seat before. In March the Lebanese Ministry of Tourism launched a new campaign called “Lebanon Blues.”

In the American version of a TV advert, a man is depicted as having completely lost focus at work because he is still thinking about gorgeous, scantily clad Lebanese women whom he encountered during his vacation.The campaign caused a great deal of anger online and prompted a women’s rights group to write a letter of protest to the ministry.