Christmas adverts 2015: PayPal could be investigated after ASA receives hundreds of complaints as festive ad implies Father Christmas isn’t real
The UK's advertising body is considering whether to investigate PayPal's new festive ad, after receiving hundreds of complaints from parents concerned that it suggests Father Christmas might not be real.
The ad, which broadcast for the first time on British TV during The X Factor's Sunday night showing, shows two brothers attempting to catch their parents bringing home Christmas presents after suspecting they might be missing out.
"I don't think we're getting any Christmas presents this year," says a sad boy. "Have you noticed how mum and dad have been around so much this year? Normally this time of year, they're out shopping."
Despite their best efforts, however, the boys don't catch their parents laden with gifts and on Christmas morning see the tree surrounded by gifts. The advert then cuts away to reveal clever old mum and dad have been shopping online.
The Advertising Standards Authority has received 223 complaints about the ad so far.
"The general nature of the complaints are that the ad is offensive because it implies that Father Christmas doesn’t exist and that it’s inappropriate to be shown at a time when it could be seen by children," an ASA spokesman told City A.M.
"The complaints have only just come in and we are currently assessing them. No decision has been taken on whether there are grounds for an investigation."
A spokeswoman for PayPal said: “We are sorry that some people have been upset by our new UK Christmas TV advert.
"Our ad aims to take a fun look at those Christmas presents kids know come from their parents, and does not in any way say Father Christmas doesn’t also deliver presents to them."
However, she acknowledged that PayPal had "listened to our customers’ feedback" and was planning to broadcast the advert only after 9pm "as soon as TV channels will allow".