SYDNEY - Facebook has been forced to backtrack after it banned an Australian ad featuring bikini-clad plus-sized model Tess Holliday promoting positive body image, initially saying the photo’s depiction was “undesirable.”
The social networking giant blocked the ad for Melbourne’s “Cherchez La Femme: Feminism and Fat” gathering, saying the image violated its advertising guidelines.
When organizers questioned the decision, the Facebook Ads Team wrote back saying the ad did not comply with their health and fitness policy because “the image depicts a body or body parts in an undesirable manner.”
“Ads like these are not allowed since they make viewers feel bad about themselves,” said the letter to organizer Jessamy Gleeson, who posted a screen-shot of it online.
Gleeson said she was stunned that Facebook “seemingly has no idea that plus-sized, self-describing fat women can feel great about themselves.”
She urged followers on the platform to “rage hard at anyone who tries to tell us that some bodies are more ‘desirable’ than others.”
Gleeson said Facebook later apologized for its actions, sending her a note admitting it had incorrectly reviewed the ad.
“Our policies are in place to help protect the community from offensive ads that can damage their experience on our platform,” it said in a screen-shot Gleeson posted on Twitter.
“This is not the case here and I’m sorry for our incorrect review. We evaluate millions of ads per week and there are instances that we incorrectly disapprove an image that does not violate our policies.”
