In June 2024, Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, is facing criticism for supporting a controversial advertisement that promotes elective bilateral mastectomies for women who identify as non-binary. The advertisement, which has been compared to previous banned ads for promoting unhealthy body image messages, has sparked outrage among various groups. Critics argue that the ad glorifies irreversible surgeries on healthy breasts for a mental health condition and raises concerns about double standards in societal attitudes towards body modifications. The advertising watchdog had previously banned a bikini ad in 2015 due to concerns about its impact on women's body image.
Sadiq Khan is getting behind a movement which encourages women to cut off their healthy breasts. @polblonde on the Mayor of London's disturbing new poster 👇 https://t.co/jLIts82K06
SHOCKING AD How dare the Mayor of London promote this damaging propaganda to girls and women. In our upside down confused world, consider the double standards… ❌Breast ironing is bad. ✅But breast binding and elective bilateral mastectomies are good. ❌FGM is bad. ✅But… https://t.co/QYk7eWirne
The advertising watchdog banned the bikini ad in 2015, concerned about the body image message it was sending out to women. The other advert, from this week of a woman who has had both breasts surgically removed because she identifies as they/them is endorsed by the London Mayor https://t.co/NxeXsyTQwr
“Supported by Mayor of London”. Serious question, Sadiq Khan, @MayorofLondon why is this glorification of girls & young women mutilating their healthy breasts done in your name? https://t.co/OomdRjIXaq
Dear @MayorofLondon, Could you kindly explain why you are glorifying irreversible surgery performed on healthy breasts of women for a mental health condition? H/T @FlaggedOffUK https://t.co/GIX5riioN9