Disney Ad Banned for Frightening Children with Alien

A "menacing" Disney advert for the film "Predator Badlands" has been banned by the UK's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). The decision came after multiple parental complaints that the digital poster, which featured a large alien character holding a severed body, was inappropriate and likely to frighten children. The advert, seen roadside in Giffnock, Glasgow, also included close-up shots of the alien with the caption "welcome to a world of hurt."

Disney subsidiary Twentieth Century Studios argued the figure was a "synth" or robot, emphasizing its non-human nature, and that the film itself carried a 12A rating. They also noted the severed body appeared for less than two seconds in a 10-second advert and that previous versions had been reviewed. However, the ASA maintained that Disney had a duty to ensure ads were suitable for a general audience, including children.