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Passengers take fun out of Southwest's supermodel airplane
Try to have a little bit of fun and those pesky passengers get all bent out of shape. Last month, Southwest Airlines joined up with Sports Illustrated to paint the side of one of their Boeing 737s with the image of Bar Rafaeli, an Israeli supermodel, in a white, two-piece swimsuit. It's a brief promotion aimed at promoting the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition and tickle a few passengers who happen to randomly be riding on (or near) the aircraft. Wouldn't your day get instantly better if you were waiting to take off at 7AM and saw a giant supermodel taxi past you?
But not everyone is as tickled as we are. A slew of passengers, many on Southwest's corporate blog are complaining about the paint job, equating the image to "soft porn." They want it taken down.
Think they're being ridiculous? Check out the gallery below. Think they're right? Read on:
Gallery: Southwest and Bar Refaeli
Have you ever seen soft porn? It doesn't look like this. Women less adorned are all around us, from billboards in New York City to The Sears Catalogue to, oh, I don't know, THE BEACH.
Southwest is just having a little bit of fun turning heads in the direction of their aircraft, but if you can't stand the sight of a pretty Israeli woman, cover your eyes or stop flying for the next couple of months until they repaint her. The promotion only lasts a few more weeks.
Southwest is just having a little bit of fun turning heads in the direction of their aircraft, but if you can't stand the sight of a pretty Israeli woman, cover your eyes or stop flying for the next couple of months until they repaint her. The promotion only lasts a few more weeks.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 30)
Eva Mar 4th 2009 5:28PM
I don't think it qualifies as "soft porn" but I do think it's pretty absurd coming from an airline that went all Taliban-style on that girl in the short skirt last year and forced her to cover up with a blanket. You're either with the family values crew or you're not, Southwest.
Suzi Mar 5th 2009 3:25PM
I agree. Pick you position SW. You want a young woman to cover up because he skirt's too short, yet you portray a bikini-clad woman on your plane. Hmmm.......sounds a bit like a contradiction to me. But, as a mother of 2, when did a woman in a bikini become "soft porn". Give me a break.
Greg Mar 5th 2009 3:28PM
One and the other don't relate. the SI model isn't wearing that on the plane, it's just a temp thing on the outside to promote the swim suit edition. It happens to be a very smart innovative way to get our name out there, and Southwest has never been afraid to push the envelope and be bold. You see worse on TV than what is on the plane.
Marilyn Mar 5th 2009 4:29PM
The airlines are whining about losing so much money due to fuel prices & low ridership - do y'all know how much painting an airplane costs? Oh - the bucks came out of the ad budget; I see. I liked it better when one of the airlines painted female names on the plane. That wasn't any worse than giving boats female names....Certainly it was less costly!
Bronco Mar 5th 2009 5:28PM
What the general public failed to realize and what Southwest had the good taste in not revealing, is that the young woman was asked to cover up her very short skirt because she had no panties on! She was revealing herself to all who sat in front of her and looked back down the aircraft. This is common through out the industry. Ask ANY flight attendant with Any carrier. G.Q. Public needs a reality check and to grow some tougher skin.
Whitney Mar 5th 2009 4:47PM
Definitely agree. I love Southwest (They're my favorite to fly on), but painting a supermodel on the side of the plane is strange.... no matter WHO you are. I don't think it's inappropriate in the slightest. Just very, very odd.
terri Mar 5th 2009 5:05PM
what a great comment. I had forgotten about that. Hypocrisy taking flight!
dave Mar 5th 2009 6:15PM
Southwest Airlines reponse to the girl in the skirt was motivated by customer complaints. If the customers on her flight had not complained the event would have never happened.
dave Mar 5th 2009 6:23PM
Southwest Airlines reponse to the girl in the skirt was motivated by customer complaints. If the customers on her flight had not complained the event would have never happened.
Killabeez Mar 5th 2009 7:26PM
Yeah...pretty stupid. They can put a likeness that is half dressed on if they think it suits their needs and make money. But, someone is dressed in a mini skirt and they get bumped off the plane? C'mon...wake up. What a croc...Actually, the person that got bumped was prettier than the supermodel too. What a double standard.
berry Mar 5th 2009 7:52PM
ur so right!
Bridgette Mar 5th 2009 10:10PM
OH MY GOSH.. EXACTLY.. AND WHO WROTE THIS ARTICLE ANYWAY.. AN 18 SOME COLLEGE STUDENT? OK SO HOW WOULD THE MALES FEEL IF SOME STUD IN HIS UNDERWEAR, SHOWING " HIS" STUFF, THAT MOST OF AMERICA'S MALE POPULATION WISHES THEY HAD.. WAS PUT ON THE SIDE OF AN 8 HOUR FLIGHT FOR YOUR "WIFE" TO WISH SHE HAD, DREAM OF FOR 8 SOME HOURS WHILE YOU THINK SHE IS THINKING OF YOU, YEAH RIGHT"OF COURSE"... OH YEAH MAKE SURE YOU KISS HER WHILE YOU GET OFF THE PLANE.. WHAT A GREAT FLIGHT! GIVE ME A BREAK.
obama yo mama Mar 6th 2009 4:42AM
i sez lets fli tha frendly skys
Vida Mar 6th 2009 2:57PM
Also its plain tacky...who wants to board a plane with a bikini clad model relaxing on the side??..I personally prefer a no nonsense craft...one that tells me everyone connected to this craft is professional and cares about MY safety...boarding this plane makes me feel like i am boarding an MTA bus and buses can't fly..enough said
D Mar 6th 2009 5:27PM
There's a major difference in a real person waiting to board a plane that's in a "mini" skirt..Have you ever seen how short girls wear them these days? Of course they can find that more offensive then a "Picture" of a girl in a bikini.
Your "Family values" as a parent would you rather see your son with a picture of her on his wall or a girl walking around with her ass hanging out.
You people( and I'm assuming those who called this soft porn were people in their later years(woman)) honestly over react to the modern world(not what it use to be). To also say they contradict themselves in itself isn't right for the simple fact that there two MAJORLY different types of "acceptable fashions" of today's society. Plus she's hot..Who cares get on with it or don't fly southwest. Good services fair prices.
Helene Mar 6th 2009 7:37PM
Oh. My. God. It's an advert!!! It happens to be a lovely girl in a tasteful bikini. Nobody was up in arms when Marky Mark (Mark Wahlberg) was modeling men's underwear on the side of the Macy's buildings in downtown Manhattan and San Francisco back in the 80's. Imagine commuting to work back and forth every day being bombarded my his "package." This is an airplane. Spends most of its time in the air, or parked at an airport where, unless you work there, you're probably never going to see the thing. And if this young lady qualifies as soft porn, then none of you have ever heard of Victoria's Secret, have you? Talk about soft porn. geez, people
Judy Mar 7th 2009 7:40AM
I don't see a problem with this promotion. When I worked as a flight attendant for National Airlines in the early 70s, they did much racier campaigns. Each plane had a girl's name and the slogan was "Fly Me, I'm Judy". At one point, our uniforms were short and our coats were fake tiger fur. When asked by a woman's libber how I could let the airline demean me like that, I responded... "Lady, it's the first time in my life that I'm a sex symbol - and I love it!".
Oh, for the good old days. I was also a Registered Nurse when I worked for the airline. Safety and service to our passengers were stressed and flying was more than just a means to get somewhere - it was part of the vacation.
Frumby Mar 12th 2009 6:55PM
First off, SWA did not remove the woman from the aircraft. They asked her to cover up her privates because they were exposed and passengers complained. During her interview with Matt Lauer on the Today show, NBC sensors blurred her crotch because she exposed herself. Secondly, Southwest has been profitable for 35 years and is well prepared to deal with this economic downturn. Do not lump them into the Wharton School of Rape the Company for personal profit CEO's found in the front office of other airlines. Lastly, it's a decal and its not painted on the aircraft. SI paid the bill not Southwest. Don't believe everything you read...
Julie Mar 4th 2009 5:34PM
Soft porn? Definitely not. When you go to the beach do you feel assaulted by soft core porn? These people need to get a grip.
S Mar 6th 2009 7:36PM
It is totally irrelevant to try and compare it to going to the beach, or to looking at a catalog as one poster put it.
A catalog is not on public view (and unavoidable) as the side of a plane is. And going to the beach is a context where it is expected, and in that context not "in your face" as is this. And not humongous size either!
A body may be beautiful but that does not make it appropriate to force everyone to see it (and it amounts to forcing.) If my sensibilities tell me and my family that we would rather not see it and find it offensive and degrading to women, is our opinion not to be heard? If you want to view such an image why not just get a copy of SI? What if I owned an airline and wanted to paint gigantic sized pictures of men's penises? What is the difference? One's cultural and moral sensibilities is what the difference is. Where do we draw the line? Why stop at women in bikinis?