Amazon Defends 'C*nt' Christmas Card Advertisement: Report

Amazon Defends Offensive Ad
A picture shows an Ipad with an 'Amazon' logo on November 13, 2012 in Paris. French tax authorities have demanded $252 million in back taxes and interest from online retailer Amazon, according to a company document on November 13, 2012.AFP PHOTO / LIONEL BONAVENTURE (Photo credit should read LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP/Getty Images)
A picture shows an Ipad with an 'Amazon' logo on November 13, 2012 in Paris. French tax authorities have demanded $252 million in back taxes and interest from online retailer Amazon, according to a company document on November 13, 2012.AFP PHOTO / LIONEL BONAVENTURE (Photo credit should read LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP/Getty Images)

If Amazon had a swearing jar, it'd probably contain enough cash to make someone rich.

The giant online retailer is defending the use of a swear word in a Christmas card ad that appeared on Amazon.co.uk and was subsequently banned by the British Advertising Standards Authority, the Guardian reports. And it wasn't just any swear word. It’s the one that rhymes with what football teams often do on 4th down.

Yep, the ad used what is arguably the ugliest swear of them all. “'You're a c*nt. Sorry, I meant to say 'Merry Christmas'," the card read.

Despite the ASA's claim that the use of the word was offensive, Amazon says it was intended as “a bit of light-hearted, irreverent fun," according to the Guardian.

An email request for comment from The Huffington Post to Amazon (both in the U.S. and the U.K.) was not immediately returned on Thursday.

As it happens, Amazon may be in need of more than just a timeout and a good mouth washing. This is the second recent incident in which the retailer has had to defend accusations of using offensive language. Earlier this month, Amazon faced criticism after one of its merchants began selling T-shirts that contained the slogan, "Keep Calm and Rape a Lot."

Before You Go

American Apparel: Too Pornographic

Banned Ads, 2012

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot