Jake Paul and Tommy Fury boxing post blasted as 'irresponsible' by advertising watchdog
05.07.2023 - 11:23
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A Tweet featuringYouTuber Jake Paul has been banned by the UK's advertising watchdog for 'irreponsibly' promoting betting.
The controversial ad, which appeared on Ladbrokes' Twitter feed in February, displayed an image of social influencer turned professional boxer Paul alongside a caption that read: "@TommyTNTFury beat @JakePaul by split decision last night. So, we’ve got to ask the question… What’s next for Jake Paul? Vote here now."
If that wasn't enough, the tweet also included a poll at the bottom, offering options such as "Win the re-match," "Head to the MMA," "Return to YouTube," and "Join the WWE."
The Advertising Standards Agency investigated a complaint that the ad violated its rules by featuring an individual who would strongly appeal to those under the age of 18.
In their defence, Ladbrokes argued that the social media post was published after the fight between Jake Paul and Tommy Fury and did not contain any "calls to action," promotional offers, or links to their website. Moreover, they claimed that their Twitter feed and respective tweets were age-gated, ensuring that only users over the age of 18 could access them.
While it is no secret that Jake Paul boasts a massive social media following, Ladbrokes contended that, based on the demographics of his followers, only 16% of his YouTube subscribers were registered as being between 13 and 17 years old, with none of his Twitter followers "registered as being under 18."
However, the ASA maintained that Jake Paul undeniably possesses "inherent strong appeal to under-18s." The watchdog pointed out that Paul gained recognition primarily through his YouTube videos and currently has 65 million followers across various platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and