9:32 am, July 22, 2014
A CAR dealer in Western Australia got into trouble after publishing an advert containing a ‘joke’ about disgraced TV star Rolf Harris.
Goldfields Toyota, in Kalgoorlie, advertised a Hilux for sale with the caption: ‘There’s more hope of Rolf Harris getting a babysitting gig than us finding a better example.’
The ad went on to contain more normal content about the price and specifications of the vehicle, but it was the Harris reference that caused a backlash on social media sites and elsewhere.
Eighty-four-year-old Harris, famed as a musician, artist and TV presenter, was recently jailed for five years and nine months after being convicted of a series of sexual assaults, some involving children.
The controversial ad appeared in local paper the Kalgoorlie Miner earlier this month but has come to the attention of people all over the world because of the internet. Responses have included ‘this is NOT okay’ and simply ‘oh dear’.
Unsurprisingly, staff at the dealership quickly realised they had made an error of judgment.
General sales manager Darryl Evans said: ‘We blurred the lines of good taste and bad.’
Toyota Australia said it had asked for the ad to be removed and said it was working with the dealership to ensure any similar incident is avoided in future.
