Ad featuring ‘nude’ model enrages MKs

The sight of a nearly nude Gal Gadot prompted nine members of Knesset to sign a letter protesting the “pornographic commercial,” Maariv reported on Wednesday.

The commercial in question is for Castro clothing, and features the slogan “If you’re not well-dressed, you’re not dressed at all.” It shows the Israeli model, naked except for some strategic pixelating, getting into an elevator filled with dressed people. There is also a “male” version of the ad, featuring model Yonatan Wagman getting into an elevator filled with (dressed) women.

The letter, written by Uri Ariel (National Union) and signed by eight other MKs from five different parties, was sent to the clothing company and the broadcasting authority responsible for Channel 2, where the commercial is being broadcast.

The legislators ask both bodies to remove the advertisement, which features the presenters “naked like the day they were born, with only a slight blur obscuring their private parts.” They protest that the commercial is screened at peak viewing hours, when young children are watching.

Castro promptly responded, saying the models were never in the nude; they were dressed in the company’s lingerie and then had those lingerie-covered parts pixelated. “There is no law preventing a company like ours from filming lingerie,” the company said.

A spokesman for the broadcasting authority promised to investigate the matter, saying many complaints had been received.