ARCON to sanction Mr. Macaroni, D’General bitters over ‘illicit’ advert

ARCON to sanction Mr. Macaroni, D’General bitters over ‘illicit’ advert

The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has vowed to take action against Mr Macaroni over a “sexual stimulant advertisement” for D’General Bitters.

In a now-viral skit, Mr. Macaroni and Kemi Ikuseedun (Mummy Wa) could be seen promoting the new drink in a sexual manner.

The video sees Mummy Wa demanding sex from her husband who initially declined. Upon taking the drink — although mistakenly — Mr Macaroni yielded to his wife’s sexual request.

In a statement signed by Olalekan Fadolapo, ARCON director general, on Friday, the regulatory council said the advert material was neither vetted nor approved by the Advertising Standard Panel (ADP) before being exposed on social media.

Fadolapo added that the skit violated the regulations of the ARCON and the Nigerian Code of Advertising.

ARCON, in the statement, also demanded that the content be pulled down from all social media platforms.

The regulatory agency added that it will take all necessary steps to ensure the “violators are sanctioned”.

“The attention of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON] has been drawn to the D’General Bitters as a sexual stimulant advertisement by Mr. Adebowale Adedayo a.k.a. “Mr. Macaroni” and Miss Kemi Ikuseedun a.k.a. “Mummy wa” being currently exposed on the online/social media platforms,” the statement reads.

“The advertisement was neither presented for vetting nor approved by the Advertising Standards Panel (ASP) and is in violation of the ARCON Act and the Nigerian Code of Advertising.

“ARCON has directed the advertiser, agency and platform owners to immediately remove and stop further exposure of the advertisement.

“ARCON will take all necessary steps to ensure the violators are sanctioned.

“As gatekeepers of advertising, advertisement, and marketing communications, ARCON will continue to ensure all advertisements are ethical, responsible and in conformity with the prevailing laws of the Federation as well as the Nigerian Code of Advertising”.