50 Cent poster slammed by watchdog

A promotional poster for 50 Cent movie Get Rich or Die Tryin' has been shot down by the Advertising Standards Authority for promoting the use of weapons.

The advertisement, which portrays the rapper-cum-actor holding a baby over his shoulder and a pistol tucked into his trousers, could be seen as glamourising gun crime and may cause serious offence, the watchdog ruled.

According to The Guardian, the poster sparked 17 complaints in areas of London, Berkshire and West Sussex, causing particular offence in an area recently connected with gun crime involving children.

Universal Music Group, the advertiser behind the campaign, argued that the poster was in fact doing the opposite of glorifying violence, since the rapper is shown wanting to leave ghetto life which can be seen by the baby being in his arms whilst the gun is demoted to the back of his trousers.

Unimpressed with this reasoning, the ASA found the poster in breach of advertising regulations relating to social responsibility, decency violence and anti-social behaviour and children.

Get Rich or Die Tryin' goes on general release on January 20.