Johnny Farah calls this…advertising. What do you call it?

Thanks to @HalaMoubarak for the pic.

Update 1: Johnny Farah posted a public apology on Beirut.com. He was sent a couple of e-mails by fellow bloggers and tweeps to which he replied with the following:

Message 1:

Thank you for getting in touch with me to clear this up. I am aware and have just sent an apology email. The photograph is not an ad but was taken as part of a photography event where the people in the picture were able to choose their own poses. When you see the photo in context with the other pictures next Friday June the 28th, you will see that it is part of an art exhibition and not an advertising campaign. We did not mean to cause any offence and apologize to anyone who was insulted. I have changed the event picture.

The Johnny Farah Team

Message 2:

Thank you for your email. You have probably received our apology by now clarifying that the photograph is not an ad but was taken as part of a photography exhibition. The people in the pictures are not models, but members of the general public that walked into the store that day and chose their own poses. The whole event was light-hearted and fun and the picture in question may not have portrayed that which is why we have changed the image.
In no way did we mean to degrade women, and I am sorry that you were offended.

I really hope to see you next week so you can get an understanding of what the project is really about.

Kind regards,
Johnny

And the image of the event was changed to this:

When you use an image to get your message across, it is a form of advertising whether it’s part of an official campaign or just a plain invitation to a photography exhibition; and from a marketing perspective, it is known the brand will always be associated with the visuals communicated to the public no matter what they are used for.

Update 2: They wrote about it too!

• Buzzfeed: The Most Offensive Fashion Ad Of The Year, Via Beirut
• Perez Hilton – Coco Perez: Awful Johnny Farah Accessories Ad Shows Woman Being Choked With A Leather Belt!
• The Loop by Sympatico: Johnny Farah ad accused of glorifying domestic violence
• The Frisky: Is This Offensive Johnny Farah Ad The “Worst Ad Of The Year”?
• The Gloss: Ad For Designer Leather Goods Depicts Man Choking Woman With Belt
• Hurricane Vanessa: THE MOST OFFENSIVE FASHION AD OF THE MONTH.
• Racked: Misogynistic Johnny Farah Ad “Worst of the Year”?
• Le Huffington Post – Liban : la publicité sexiste d’un designer créé la polémique
• Marketing Interactive: Art Or An Ad For Abuse?
• Huffington Post – Huffpost Lifestyle: LOOK: Is This The Most Offensive Advert To Women Ever?

Update 3: Johnny Farah release a few image of the “Photography projection” in collaboration with Joe Kesrouani.