Dendermonde (Brussels Morning Newspaper): Lieven Busschaert, manager of Busschaert Koeltechniek, faces controversy over van ads featuring lemons that some perceive as breasts. He defends the design as a humorous way to attract attention.
Lieven Busschaert, manager of Busschaert Koeltechniek, is facing controversy over the ads on his company vans, which feature two lemons that some say look like breasts. This has led to a formal complaint. Busschaert responded with humor, saying he chose the design to grab attention, especially from young people who may not know his business. He believes that a bold approach can help make his brand memorable, especially as finding skilled workers is tough in his industry. He clarified that the design was not meant to be offensive.
Is Lieven Busschaert’s Lemon ad controversy just a joke?
Busschaert reacted to the criticism by joking, he laughed and said,
But if you see anything other than lemons, you might want to see a doctor.
He took the issue lightly and mentioned that the lemons could also show the “sourness” of some people who are too critical. Busschaert said he just wanted to get attention for his company in a fun way. The controversy has given him the visibility he wanted, even if it wasn’t what he expected.
The Jury for Ethical Practices can only give advice, not punish anyone. Busschaert said,
If I can make people laugh, I’ve done my job.
He feels shameful as the complaint was made anonymously because it wasted his time. He prefers people to talk to him directly about any issues instead of being anonymous.
