News

MTV show too racy for Taco Bell

January 20, 2011

Taco Bell’s commercials have rarely been mundane. The company gave us a talking Chihuahua, a comic book-inspired Super Delicious Ingredient Force and Charles Barkley.

But that doesn’t mean the brand is willing to flirt with the exceptionally racy. Taco Bell has pulled its advertising rotation from MTV’s show “Skins” after the Parents Television Council urged a boycott.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Viacom-owned MTV, known for pushing the envelope, was asked to tone down its provocative teenage-focused drama after the PTC called for an investigation through the Department of Justice, and U.S. and House Judiciary Committees.

Specifically, the council has questioned whether or not the show violates child pornography laws and has called “Skins” “the most dangerous program ever for children.”

The controversy was enough for Taco Bell to yank its advertising rotation, even though the show attracts a big chunk of the chain’s core demographic of 18 to 34 year olds.

Rob Poetsch, Taco Bell spokesperson, said the chain's commercials initially ran during the premiere episode, but have since been re-allocated to other MTV programming.