Точка Синхронізації

The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) issued a ban on a promotional campaign for the Disney+ series 'The Acolyte' in late 2024 following complaints that the advertisement featured disturbing imagery. The controversial advert, which appeared across various digital platforms including YouTube, depicted a severed, biological-looking figure that viewers found distressing. The regulatory body intervened after receiving reports that the content was inappropriate for general audiences and lacked the necessary sensitivity for public broadcasting, potentially causing harm or distress to children and sensitive viewers. In response to the investigation, Disney defended the creative choices, arguing that the figure shown was a robot rather than a human being. The media giant claimed the character was a 'tracker droid' and was intended to be 'visually distinct from a human,' citing the presence of mechanical components and wires. Disney maintained that the context of the Star Wars universe provides a clear distinction between droids and biological entities, which they believed mitigated any potential for the imagery to be perceived as gratuitous violence or gore. Despite these assertions, the ASA upheld the complaints, ruling that the average viewer would not immediately identify the figure as a machine. The regulator noted that the pale, fleshy appearance of the character closely resembled a mutilated human torso, creating a 'disturbing' visual impact. Consequently, the watchdog determined that the advertisement must not appear again in its current form, setting a precedent for how science-fiction violence is evaluated when shown in non-age-restricted digital spaces. This ruling highlights the ongoing tension between entertainment marketing and public safety standards in the streaming era.