Marie Stopes International "Are you late?" advert

[loner1878]

Great ad. Amazing how many ignorant, self-righteous losers still exist in this day and age.

[PeterannaProductions]

And Ofcom received 270 complaints for THIS? o.O

[AmusedChild]

I was late...and I was never pregnant. I was not properly shedding the uterine buildup (because as it turned out I was not ovulating at all). I needed to see a doctor. Thank goodness there were not scores of lunatics outside of my clinic screaming at me for having what was never an "abortion." Let there be more commercials like this.

[lsdeedee]

They are not as puritanical in the UK as they are here. The whole country has it's head screwed on straight as opposed to half of them being screwed on backwards in the US trying to move us into the dark ages.

[Turtleproof]

This is what's causing all the fuss? Well, it's not like belief in the Super Ghost goes hand-in-hand with rationality.

[YuiDaoren]

THIS is the ad that's got steam and hot air coming out of the religious? Oh my.

Madness. I guess this should be expected from those who don't think women should have any control over their lives.

[lucyw802]

Thanks Marie Stopes International - I am certaind that this kind of openness about what your options are whn pregnant will be beneficial to thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of women who need help, support and advice. Keep fighting the good fight!

[chillout1109]

This is what people are moaning about? O.o

OK, I know I'm dump. But what exactly is wrong with this advert that has gotten people all so worked up? I can't understand what's "so offensive" about this ad. Come on please. Stop being so Politically Correct.

[jabeoo1]

I am going to Ignore all these opinionated anti choice comments below. Easy isn't it? - Men with anti this advert opinions keep it in your trousers, women who are anti the advert have your baby and don't use the service. I don't pipe on to you lot about over population so keep yourselves and religious values to yourselves. Thankful these complaints fell on ears with common sense and your country is not governed by no choice values.

[loulabelle85]

Does anybody know the piece of music?

[MarcusCardiff]

Women have a fundamental right to chose what happens to their own bodies.

If you don't like it then tough.

[DaBigCheeseLuigi]

Why is everyone getting so angry?

I swear that they're just offering 'clinical advice' in the advert?

As in, HELPING a woman decide what to do... What is so bad about that?

[00pm06user]

emmyisblue

"Well done Marie Stopes - a woman should always have the right to choose. "

Indeed - to make the right choice in the first place instead.

NaddlesK

"How embarassing for all of us in the UK that this is the first TV ad for pregnancy services and it's 2010...."

I totally agree -- very sad too.

[RainbowRatatouille]

This is EXACTLY what we british need. I'm embarassed to say that unlike other countries we still consider abortion a subject of tabboo. Is it any wonder our teenage pregnancy rates are so high?

[Yurikofirefly]

My problem with the "it's a woman's body so it's her right" is this: the fetus is a completely individual, never before seen combination of DNA that will one day make a completely unique, individual person. It's not simply part of a woman's body, it's something different. I realise that in situations of rape, it's incredibly hard to go through with the pregnancy. However giving the baby up for adoption is always an option - there are plenty of childless couples who would love to have a baby.

[8pasta]

right-wing and fundie newsletters & blogs are trying to raise a stink about this ad. It's nice to see the YouTube page is mostly crowded with messages of support.

[STEPHENWRAYSFORD33]

As far as I'm concerned access to contraception and family planning are an essential human right.

[ajdsmith1990]

So British television will allow adverts for a murdering organisation. Where will we go next? "Dignitas" in the UK? Shame.

[MrsTardbuster1]

Congrats MarieStopes and UK!

[emmyisblue]

Well done Marie Stopes - a woman should always have the right to choose.

[xSaz1986x]

This is what is creating all the controversy? How strange. It's a very well done advert, and simply stating that MSI is indeed there for young women. Can't see the problem at all with the advert airing.

[aleksandra14]

I think this advert is the best, the bravest thing which can be showed in TV.

[trueoutspeak]

How about stop sleeping around?

[teasaiocht]

@trueoutspeak Yeah. Because thats how every woman gets pregnant. By sleeping around. Not by getting pregnant by their boyfriends or husbands or getting raped. Fuck reality, right? /sarcasm

[doggie101171]

@trueoutspeak how about if your married, on a low wage, can only just pay the rent let alone have a child.

[littlechef96]

i saw this for the first time now and thought is this it, the media hyped it up so much, still nice advert straight to the point

[iamestrella]

An unwanted child should never be brought into this world.

[aibsee]

Aren't you all glad nobody aborted you back then, so you can still put a comment here?

[superfi1982]

Well done MSI. It is about time that an organisation OFFERING IMPARTIAL ADVICE on such matters is more nationally known. This will hopefully reach out and help many women in difficult and mentally distressing situations, to decide what is best for them. More importanlty, to show them that they are not on their own. Oh, and just to remind everyone that if you don't like what you see on tv, change the channel!

[SuddenCatharsis]

@thesarahspunk Maybe she should have kept her legs closed then.

[2H2B]

@SuddenCatharsis agreeing to sex is not agreeing to give birth. I'm sure if you ask marie stopes international will explain the difference. 0845 300 3737.

[deathbygoat]

Abortion is legal in the UK, this advert is completely valid. I just wish the NHS would hurry up and legitimise the struggles that thousands of women face each year.

[shamiroxs]

I really dont see what all the fuss is about. All the pro-life people out there seem to think that suddenly pregnant women will start running to the abortion clinic - abortion has been leagal for a long time now and everyone knows their options. An advert wont change anything.

[agnelovesya]

We can't see cigarette adverts, alcohol adverts are very rare and now they want to ban junk food adverts. But...they allow this?

[Catlover123445]

@agnelovesya

This is an educational advert, providing advice for women seeking sexual and reporoductive advice...whats your problem? and why are you equating this advert with cigarette and alcohol adverts?

[GothicarnieWink]

This was no where near as bad as i thought it would be or as bad as the papers made it out to be. This is a good way to advertise it especially to young women who need support

[maybeilljoincia]

this is awesome!!! I wish we could have commercials like this in the US.

[OonaCanute]

Awesome ad. If I were in the UK, scared and pregnant, it would definitely make me call MSI.

[Equus1965]

Brilliantly conceived advert. It doesn't trivialise any issues. It just says "We're here if and when you need us"

[dialyt55]

The music is very sad. Abortion is very sad too. How sad that we advertise this on TV. Tragic.

[longlivetheking58]

@dialyt55 Yeah, abortion was advertised here in the US during the last superbowl. The impression I got was "go ahead, screw yourself silly, you can always have an abortion.

[Catlover123445]

@dialyt55

Well, it may be sad to you, but so could adverts for meat be to a vegetarian... at the end of the day the advert is meant to be educational and provide women advice...if you find that sadder than women being forced to carry pregnancy to term and then giving it up for adoption or having it ruin her life cause she isnt in a position to bring it up properly...then really...i find that sad.

[candybitch]

.....this is what all the fuss and outrage was about?...seriously? o.O

not once did it tell u that u must get an abortion ect...bet ppl who got themselves into a tizzy bout this r feeling pretty stupid rite now ;p

[looklauren]

@candybitch not really cus Marie Stopes arrange 65000 abortions a year and is notoriously pro abortion.. And they make a lot of money doing it. Notice how no pro life charity can afford to advertise this way..

[Catlover123445]

@looklauren

No, you'll find that these so called "pro lifers" don't have adds on tv is because they have an agenda and are full of propoganda and misinformatio, and nooone only religious nutjobs would fund that.

[janarcher600]

@candybitch Nope, not feeling stupid at all...feeling sad that there are millions of babies aborted every year. Sad that people can't wait until they are married to have sex. The people who should fill stupid are people who have abortions for not being able to either keep their legs closed or protect themselves. Hopefully pregnant is all they get...how many people are dying from AIDS now? Nope, I don't feel stupid...

[poplar15]

There is so much guff talked about 'human rights'.

The most fundamental of all is surely the right to be born. Without this, all other human rights are meaningless.

[khicks444]

That was mild. I wouldn't have pegged that as an abortion ad if there wasn't such a fuss about it. I wish people would just stay home and mind their own damn business.

[crazytwinsinc]

one of the signs that the world is going down... pro abortion? this is just not right .. But God will be the only one to judge with wisdom every single person involved in this.. sorry if I sound " too religious" ...

[looklauren]

@crazytwinsinc don't apologise.. no such thing.. 

[Catlover123445]

@crazytwinsinc

For the the last time...just because someone provides the service of an abortion or supports the women having the choice and accessibility to have one, dosnt mean they are "pro abortion" it means they are PRO CHOICE and YOU my friend are not "pro life" YOU are ANTI CHOICE. well..god must be th biggest abotionist of them all because how many miscarriages is he responsible for??

[Catlover123445]

@crazytwinsinc

Well thats exactly the point, your argument is a religious one and NOT a rational one.

[gitarrlillan]

What they actually say isn't come to us and do an abortion, they say come to us and we can help you find a solution that fits you.

[SarahIndiaLove]

This is what people are moaning about? O.o

[Bobbledeg00k]

I once met a girl deliberately binge drinking to miscarry. It took a week. We need to help people like her with counselling, information and access to professional services whatever they decide. We should not irresponsibly promote any solution to this serious issue but should enable women to make the right choice for them. This should involve serious consideration of the father, family and unborn child but we have to accept sometimes abortion will seem like the best option to the woman involved.

[2H2B]

fantastic! obviously the anti-choice zealots will be opposesd to women having their options explained to them, but then they COULD respond by showing and honest and responsible aguement why women should NOT have a choice..........that could take some time ha ha ha!

[nothingatall2able]

This is an abomination - treating the conception of a life as an inconvenience to be identified and then quickly destroyed? What has the world come to.... :(

[FromSamnWithLovex]

@nothingatall2able The advert isn't saying that you should 'identify and destroy' your pregnancy. It's showing women that they do have options. Sometimes it's better to end the pregnancy before the child is born than to bring a child into a crummy life. For example, I know a girl who's 18, a big drinker and drug user, and has no job and no permanant home. She recently got pregnant. Do you think she should give birth and be responcible for a child?

[TankGirl1996]

I'm offended...

"If you're late for your period, you could be pregnant" - how stupid do they think people are???

[cyanidexdoll]

@TankGirl1996 Um...its one of the very first signs of pregnancy. The body goes to great lengths to stop your period if you are preganant so the implanting fetus is not destroyed and washed away. Get with it. Seriously.

[ranjachrys]

Goof job, as we said, we'll never let down a women in need

[Nadsi89]

I think it's a great ad. It gives women an opportunity to think through their decision with an organisation that's responsible and puts the wellbeing of women first.

[chaznmaz]

About time too! Bring this to Northern Ireland. Everyone has the right to education about sexual health.

[spacejogger]

Not before time that this issue is brought into the open. Having seen the furore in the media prior to the showing I was expecting something quite different but this is well done and thought provoking. I hope that Marie Stopes does offer something other than abortion to women that phone in need of help. Prevention is better than cure and they should be investing a lot of time and effort into education and awareness.

[cyanidexdoll]

@spacejogger " Prevention is better than cure and they should be investing a lot of time and effort into education and awareness." Yeah but the sad thing is, a lot of the time the "prevention" is deemed a sin by major religious groups. Even this pill is considered a mortal sin.

[AtropineDreams]

There's already a facebook group, full of narrow minded, ignorant, brain washed idiots.

After reading the comments on that group I was waiting for an advert with babies being sacrificed or something horrific and offensive; this advert is informative and I think they deal with the issue very sensitively. We need more adverts like this, for women who need help, and someone to talk to about their options.

Good job.

[BurnOutXL]

I am pro-choice, but this ad makes the women look like unfortunate victims, rather than adults who made a choice. Personal responsibility is completely left out of the message. Abortion should be a serious & heavy decision.

And that "Katie Simmons" has 2 children and presumably, a husband, who they have conveniently left out of the equation. They even show the boy being a bit of a "handful" & the mother looking defeated. Pretty shameful ad, even with the typical pseudo-emotional tune.

[luis1coelho]

Criminals. Baby killers. Abortion is the ultimate form of child abuse. Abortion is the ultimate form of women exploitation. Abortion is the ultimate form of discrimination...

[braeduin]

@luis1coelho Where was abortion mentioned in the advert? The advert is about pregnancy advice. They may not give advice that you are personally comfortable with but it's a lot more than what the catholic church has to offer.

[acornalert]

What's controversial about that?

[thezombiemessia]

saw the Marie Stopes advert on C4. Abortion not mentioned, no teenagers involved. Advert is 30 seconds advertising an advice line to talk about ALL the options, not just the options they see as Morally right...

All 3 Women are of legal age, 1 of them even having 2 children already. No mention of the word Abortion. Marie Stopes supports Abortion sure...but saying this advert is about Abortion is like saying that I'm advertising abortion when I talk about contraceptives...

[XXgraciiee]

i thought this advert would b dicusting and pushing aborton into our faces but its not as bad as i thought it doesnt menton the word abortion. i am still against abortion but the advert does look like it might help people who are in trouble

[AllyK212]

i dont know why people kicked up such a fuss about it, theres nothing wrong with the advert. its not glamourising abortions or promoting them, it doesnt even mention them!

pro life people have nothing to worry about, this advert will just help women with unplanned pregnancies find the right option for them or even just someone to talk to. people making a big fuss over nothing yet again!!

[xAmerica4evax]

I'm pro life. I hope these pepole realise what fools they are.

[lewisdg2000]

some people are very easily offended it seems...

[Fogeyblue]

This is a good advertisement for an organisation with a track record of helping women gain control over their lives.

Well done, keep it up. Don't let religious extremists impose their peculiar prejudices on the rest of us.

[melonnogginhead]

Oh, so the ad doesn't even actually say anything about abortion specifically. It's not like it's polluting the young's mind and promoting murder.

What's all the fuss about?!

[roxiexxx10]

good advert. This information should be out there so women can make informed decisions.

[boneration]

this is what has people in an uproar?

[popcornministry]

SICK SICK SICK

[snapper180659]

@popcornministry

Why?

[BabsTurtleGirl]

>:(

[thelogster]

Boo, get this crap of our televisions. I'll educate my children, thank you very much!

[2H2B]

@thelogster your children are watchig channel 4 after 9 o-clock and you think you are educating them?

[snapper180659]

@thelogster Not exactly aimed at children is it?

[jka14]

@thelogster That's great that you'll educate your children. This advert isn't about education, it's about "what if?"

What if with all the knowledge and best intentions that condom splits?

What if when I'm walking home I get raped and find myself pregnant?

What if I can't afford another child?

What if I'm scared and I don't know who to talk to?

This advert is giving people the option of talking, to try and find the best possible scenario for them.

[NaddlesK]

How embarassing for all of us in the UK that this is the first TV ad for pregnancy services and it's 2010. Well done Marie Stopes, I've no doubt thousands of women and girls will benefit from the publicity of your excellent services.

[TeamStephenson]

@NaddlesK I don't think you can describe abortion as a 'pregnancy service' :-s

[jacqus82]

LIFE can help.

[ComradePorkie]

@jacqus82 Sure they can. if you want a biased point of view rooted in religious doctrine and unsubstantiated appeal to emotion on rather than common sense, logic or a modern understanding of embryology. That being said, if anyone's unsure there's nothing stopping them from contacting both. I just think charities like this should exist to listen to the affected individual and help them to arrive at whichever decision is best for their own wellbeing, rather than pushing an underlying agenda.

[Catlover123445]

@ComradePorkie

For bloody sake comradeporkie, that was the whole point of the fucking advert...they provide women with information and advice based on the individuals circumstances...and don't just tell every women plain and straight to have an abortion...there is no fucking agenda, they didnt even mention the word "abortion" in the advert

[benrolfe]

Nice one MSI