Plus-Size Lingerie Ad Removed From Web After Censorship By Networks (Updated)

Yesterday, Lane Bryant posted a lingerie commercial it said had been rejected or partially censored by ABC and Fox. Now they’ve taken it down. What’s going on?

The commercial is for Lane Bryant’s Cacique lingerie line, and its content of a woman in lingerie preparing to meet her date was in no way edgier than anything else we’ve seen on TV. This is what Lane Bryant said on its blog yesterday:

ABC restricted our airtime and refused to show the commercial during “Dancing with the Stars.” Fox demanded excessive re-edits and rebuffed it three times before relenting to air it during the final 10 minutes of “American Idol,” but only after we threatened to pull the ad buy.

Yes, these are the same networks that have scantily-clad housewives so desperate they seduce every man on the block, and don’t forget Bart Simpson, who has shown us the moon more often than NASA, all in what they call “family hour.”

But shortly after we posted the video last night, it was taken down from YouTube and the blog post disappeared, although the commercial is now being promoted as appearing during American Idol on particular dates.

We’re in touch with Lane Bryant’s press rep and will let you know when we hear something definitive.

Update: The spokeswoman tells us, “Lane Bryant realized there was a legal trademark issue which required them to change out the spot. In order to do this they needed to take the spot down prior to reposting the new version. This change has nothing to do with the content of the spots and the new version will be up shortly.”

Second Update: The video is back up on the site. Just in case, we’ve grabbed it.

Lane Bryant Says TV Nets Censored Ad [Brandweek]
Earlier: Networks Censor Plus Size Lingerie Ad

Third Update: Lane Bryant says the ad was rejected because of cleavage; ABC says Lane Bryant is lying. More here.

Fourth Update:: Lane Bryant has released documents showing it was restricted from airing on ABC during “family hour.”