Huh?
A gorgeous new Lane Bryant television ad featuring models Ashley Graham, Tara Lynn, Denise Bidot and Georgia Pratt in the brand's underwear (nothing we haven't already seen from Victoria's Secret), including a shot of new mom Lynn breastfeeding her baby, was rejected by major networks.
TMZ first reported ABC and NBC turned down the #ThisBody Lane Bryant ad "as is." A representative for Lane Bryant confirmed this to The Huffington Post and provided a statement from NBC about why they declined.
"The first edit was turned down out of hand and while we clearly created the commercial to air we will not edit it as we believe it’s a beautiful and appropriate expression of women’s bodies," read the statement from NBC. "We do plan to air this through our own media and through digital channels where they find it as acceptable."
Lane Bryant is having none of the response and shared the video on their Facebook page, along with a pointed message: "The networks didn’t want you to see this. But we do. Share. Tag. Show everyone what #ThisBody’s made for."
In a statement sent to HuffPost, Lane Bryant described the significance of the empowering ad.
The THIS BODY campaign was meant to be a fun way for us to celebrate and honor women of all shapes and sizes. What is too much for some does not hold true for others. All women should be celebrated and feel empowered to express themselves as they see fit. We want her to know she can attract as much media attention, look just as striking as any woman, and decide what beautiful means to her. The THIS BODY commercial holds nothing back. It is a true celebration of women of all sizes doing what makes THEM feel beautiful whether its breastfeeding their newborn, flaunting their bodies the way they see fit, breaking down barriers all around and simply being who they are or want to be!
The company's #ThisBody campaign launched last month, calling it an "overdue, unavoidable, and a rapidly progressing cultural (r)evolution" for body positivity and shifted perception, according to Refinery29.
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