For the last month we’ve been running an ad titled ‘Nipple’ on our website hoping to generate your feedback. Grey Worldwide, Toronto, created the spot for Toronto Fashion Week, but due to its graphic nature it was pulled, being deemed too controversial to promote the event.

Here’s what you had to say:

Fantastic! I am happy that it gave such a ‘rise’ to people that they felt the need to pull it…too bad the rest of the world can’t get a ‘rise’ from it as well. Very funny and very simple…. Excellent ad!

-Dan Sandor, Vox Talent

I think the list of exclusively male names in the production credits says it all: a bunch of silly boys getting their jollies. It’s too bad. The print work for this campaign was quite good, but now the entire campaign is tarnished by this tiresome puerile wank. Is it on strategy? Hardly. Yet, all they would have needed to get it there is a sheer blouse on the model. Too controversial to promote the event? I doubt it. Too juvenile to be affiliated with an industry that already struggles for credibility? More likely.

-Name withheld

I liked it. I thought it was provocative and extremely well done. What makes it harder to understand about it being killed is that this type of content is exactly the type of stuff that fashion is all about. You’d be able to watch FashionTelevision and see boob shots all the time. Here, I guess, it’s considered porn.

-Peter Jacobson, ING DIrect

Well really, not for broadcast is it? I like it though, gets the point across.

-James Storie, Medium Playback

Cute spot. Provocative creative. But I think the spot would be more sensual and more effective as a promotional vehicle for the fashion industry had the breast and body been draped with a sheer or silk fabric.

-Ted Rogers, DKP Effects

I did not find the spot to be graphic or offensive. It is certainly not showing anything that would not be seen on shows such as FashionTelevision. It is an effective use of imagery and humor. I certainly got the idea.

-Dawolu Saul, Independent Filmmakers Cooperative of Ottawa

A powerful concept, though not so well executed. The hardening action looks too digitally rendered. In my experience with bosoms, the areola around the nipple gets all goosebumpy and shrivels nippleward, when stimulated or chilled? Maybe they didn’t have the budget for that. But if so, why not just use cold air, which is free and plentiful in Toronto a good eight months a year? As for the actual breast selected: world-class.

-Paul Fenn, Fenn Concepts & Copy

I don’t think it works creatively. The animated nipple is a great idea but it could of been done in other ways than just shooting a naked lady. For example: a girl wearing a T-shirt, the shirt says ‘nipple’ and then spray water on her breast then you will see her nipples through the shirt. Another: a girl wearing a tight T-shirt with the word ‘nipple’ on the shirt and animate her nipple at a close-up view, with the shirt on. I don’t think it is getting the message across enough.

-Winston Lee, Toxik Media

We’ve got a new spot at www.playbackmag.com/onthespot. Tell us what you think. *