Calvin Klein tones down racy SoHo billboard orgy ad after complaints

New York, June 24: A new ad by fashion brand Calvin Klein, showing a racy orgy scene, has been taken down after many complained about the sexually explicit details it portrayed. A picture of a dripping-wet model in a string bikini replaced the orgy-themed billboard, which had been placed on Houston St and Lafayette St. “I think it’s a good thing,” the New York Daily News quoted Rae Vermeulen, 36, who lives a few blocks from the billboard. “The old one bothered people. It was a little too explicit with the threesome. “You didn’t even notice the jeans as much as what was going on with the people,” she said. The original ad showed a very young topless woman atop a shirtless male kissing another man, while below them a guy with his shirt and jeans unbuttoned appeared to be passed out. Last week it was reported that passers-by thought the content crossed the line for public display, but the new one has been accepted. “This is a lot better than the full blatant threesome they had before,” public relations specialist Rebecca Edmondson, 29, who passes the billboard daily, said. “I do like the bathing suit on her. It’s cute!” she added. Adolfa Arena, 48, a dog walker in the area, said the ad was effective without being provocative. “I think this one is brilliant,” he said. “It’s the beginning of summer, so it works out perfectly,” he stated. When Calvin Klein officials were told of the complaints last week, they had defended the ad, saying the intent was to create “a very sexy” campaign. The firm had no immediate comment on June 23 on why they removed it, but gas station manager Shohel Mohammed, 29, who works across the street, was glad to see it go. “Customers used to come in all the time and say that it’s too much,” he said. “I’m glad they decided to change it,” he added. ANI