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Original poster

Full page (gross) Ann Summers adverts

287 replies

JustSayWhen · 27/07/2025 10:16

I've added a picture, though I don't know if it will be allowed. Ann Summers adverts have been popping up mid thread for a few days, mostly pictures of women in thongs and stockings from behind though also a model with crosses over her nips in some sheer thing. It's so embarrassing if I'm browsing MN in the queue for Pilates or at a coffee shop and someone looks over my shoulder and sees these tacky, porny images.

I thought ads were targeted but I have never visited the Ann Summers site in my life and never would - it's all nasty polyester, I feel itchy just seeing the adverts. I'm surprised ads featuring naked bums are ok on Mumsnet - it's really putting me off scrolling! Shouldn't they be blocked?

Full page (gross) Ann Summers adverts
OP posts:
LillyPJ · 28/07/2025 14:57

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This has been withdrawn by MNHQ.

Not according to the four online dictionaries I've just looked at (I'm interested in language and the origin of words). None of them said anything about prostitutes. Even if that was part of the original meaning, it no longer applies today.

Gobacktotheworld · 28/07/2025 14:42

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ.

Gobacktotheworld · 28/07/2025 14:36

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ.

Twinkletoes127 · 28/07/2025 14:20

Funnywonder · 28/07/2025 14:14

Do you think a woman can put on so called ‘frumpy’ knickers and not look frumpy in them?

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I wouldn't look at a woman in cotton knickers and call her frumpy. Not ever. That would be up to her to decide. I would not wear them as to me they are frumpy.
The same as to me, birkenstock type sandals are frumpy, but I don't go around calling women who wear them frumpy

JasmineTea11 · 28/07/2025 14:16

StMarie4me · 27/07/2025 10:21

Why do women’s bodies offend you? Why are they ‘gross’?

That's not fair, the op dislikes the way the bodies are presented, not the actual bodies.
I'm proud of my body and enjoy my sexuality, but I also find these images grim. They are purely about the male gaze.

Twinkletoes127 · 28/07/2025 14:15

MyQuirkyTraybake · 28/07/2025 14:12

If you want to look at this sort of thing you easily can. That doesn't mean everyone else wants to.

If you wore that to the office or out shopping it wouldn't be suitable. Therefore it's unreasonable to have it on a SFW website.

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I do wear them for work and shopping, and everything else. I wear these clothes everyday. I mean I usually throw a frock on top, but I do wear them

Funnywonder · 28/07/2025 14:14

Twinkletoes127 · 28/07/2025 13:07

Highlight where I called anyone frumpy.
The person who wears the cotton knickers was not mentioned.

I said, several times, cotton knickers ( noun) are frumpy.
And I (descriptor) personally won't wear them

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Do you think a woman can put on so called ‘frumpy’ knickers and not look frumpy in them?

MyQuirkyTraybake · 28/07/2025 14:12

Twinkletoes127 · 28/07/2025 10:31

Im a woman, and i think they are sexy af i dont find them sexualising at all, I find them sensual

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If you want to look at this sort of thing you easily can. That doesn't mean everyone else wants to.

If you wore that to the office or out shopping it wouldn't be suitable. Therefore it's unreasonable to have it on a SFW website.

SunflowerLife · 28/07/2025 14:12

Absentmindedsmile · 27/07/2025 10:38

😂 But surely you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between a man’s arse and a woman’s arse?

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Not the point of the thread but seriously? You couldn't tell the difference?

IZK · 28/07/2025 14:05

StrangledHowl · 28/07/2025 13:35

Feminism doesn’t involve validating other women’s unfeminist choices. If you want to truss yourself up like a nylon-clad cut of brisket, with a tanga string up its arse, you do you, obviously. But own it for what it is.

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Surely that would be owning it for what you think it is?

Why would other women do that?

Original poster
JustSayWhen · 28/07/2025 13:57

Fundamentally, I think there is a real issue with lack of imagination and understanding from anyone calling prude in response to this.

  • I don't find the Ann Summers aesthetic sexy, personally. I find other styles of underwear sexy, but not anything that features in these pop-up ads.
  • I don't want to see the kind of stuff that I find sexy popping up when I'm reading the Conflict in the Middle East topic anyway. So even if I did like the Ann Summers stuff, I'd object to it on upsetting threads.
  • I have a dear friend who identifies as asexual. I find it really offensive when people call those who lack interest in sex prudes or frigid. It reminds me of homophobes calling gay people perverts.
  • everyone has a right to their own boundaries, and sexual imagery is and should be restricted to places where it's appropriate.
  • anyone who can't handle other people having sexual boundaries has a problem they should really think about.
OP posts:
IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 28/07/2025 13:49

IZK · 28/07/2025 13:33

I don't think there's anything wrong with the ads and I'm not a fan of Ann Summers at all.

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So what? The point is consent. MN should not be showing that type of ads without consent.

[Although how anyone can think the model in the see through maid's outfit with her nipples x'd out by black gaffer tape doesn't look ridiculous escapes me]

Original poster
JustSayWhen · 28/07/2025 13:42

LillyPJ · 28/07/2025 13:40

The Brave browser is also fantastic for avoiding adverts when watching videos on YouTube. I used to get so frustrated with endless adverts interrupting the flow of something I was trying to watch.

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I think using Mumsnet with an ad blocker is the solution as I'm not willing to pay to not see mildly pornographic images. I don't mind other adverts, fine with swimwear and underwear ads but Ann Summers is where my line is.

OP posts:
Mrsbloggz · 28/07/2025 13:41

LillyPJ · 28/07/2025 13:40

The Brave browser is also fantastic for avoiding adverts when watching videos on YouTube. I used to get so frustrated with endless adverts interrupting the flow of something I was trying to watch.

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Thank you 😇🙏🏻
I didn't even know it worked for stopping YouTube adverts, I will start using it for YouTube immediately ✊🏻😄

LillyPJ · 28/07/2025 13:40

Mrsbloggz · 28/07/2025 12:55

I also object to the pornification of munsnet, I recommend using the brave browser because it blocks all ads ✊🏻😇

The Brave browser is also fantastic for avoiding adverts when watching videos on YouTube. I used to get so frustrated with endless adverts interrupting the flow of something I was trying to watch.

StrangledHowl · 28/07/2025 13:38

FullOfMomsense · 28/07/2025 13:37

Didn't realise it was unfeminist to look nice. Have you tried it?

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No one ‘looks nice’ in a nylon French Maid costume.

FullOfMomsense · 28/07/2025 13:37

StrangledHowl · 28/07/2025 13:35

Feminism doesn’t involve validating other women’s unfeminist choices. If you want to truss yourself up like a nylon-clad cut of brisket, with a tanga string up its arse, you do you, obviously. But own it for what it is.

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Didn't realise it was unfeminist to look nice. Have you tried it?

Original poster
JustSayWhen · 28/07/2025 13:37

FullOfMomsense · 28/07/2025 13:32

Feminism is really dead on mumsnet. Referring to women in lingerie as 'trussed up'- you're referring to women as you would a literal piece of meat. Women can't choose to buy clothes for her own joy without getting destroyed by middle aged women who are jealous they can't get away with lingerie anymore it would seem!

Thank you for your example of excellent feminism. In future I won't attempt to set any sexual boundaries for fear of being insufficiently feminist. I'll accept that being a proper feminist means embracing sexual imagery all the time, in all situations and applauding the sight of women's bums being posted all over the internet because that's definitely what the suffragettes fought for. And obviously yuck to middle-aged women who clearly have no sexual allure anymore and are just bitter old hags. That's absolutely what feminism is all about, insulting women for being a) too old, b) not sexy enough and c) having boundaries. REAL feminism means being young, attractive and being delighted to see women in French maid lingerie in the middle of threads about starving children in Gaza. Thanks so much for your input!

OP posts:
StrangledHowl · 28/07/2025 13:35

FullOfMomsense · 28/07/2025 13:32

Feminism is really dead on mumsnet. Referring to women in lingerie as 'trussed up'- you're referring to women as you would a literal piece of meat. Women can't choose to buy clothes for her own joy without getting destroyed by middle aged women who are jealous they can't get away with lingerie anymore it would seem!

Feminism doesn’t involve validating other women’s unfeminist choices. If you want to truss yourself up like a nylon-clad cut of brisket, with a tanga string up its arse, you do you, obviously. But own it for what it is.

IZK · 28/07/2025 13:33

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 28/07/2025 13:25

All it does is make the wearer look ridiculous

The models in the adverts do look ridiculous. You [Ann Summers fans] can't have it both ways. Some of you are determined there's nothing wrong with these ads; no- one should object to seeing them whether they want to or not.

Well as I was forced to see those ads and having seen them I think the models look ridiculous in their sad little Benny Hill girl outfits. If MN is going to force soft porn on me, don't complain if you don't like my reaction.

I don't think there's anything wrong with the ads and I'm not a fan of Ann Summers at all.

FullOfMomsense · 28/07/2025 13:32

Feminism is really dead on mumsnet. Referring to women in lingerie as 'trussed up'- you're referring to women as you would a literal piece of meat. Women can't choose to buy clothes for her own joy without getting destroyed by middle aged women who are jealous they can't get away with lingerie anymore it would seem!

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 28/07/2025 13:25

All it does is make the wearer look ridiculous

The models in the adverts do look ridiculous. You [Ann Summers fans] can't have it both ways. Some of you are determined there's nothing wrong with these ads; no- one should object to seeing them whether they want to or not.

Well as I was forced to see those ads and having seen them I think the models look ridiculous in their sad little Benny Hill girl outfits. If MN is going to force soft porn on me, don't complain if you don't like my reaction.

Twinkletoes127 · 28/07/2025 13:18

FrenchLavendar · 28/07/2025 13:07

But do you truly find that sort of underwear comfortable? Or is comfort not on your radar?

I couldn't wear thongs, I'd be constantly trying to pull them out of the crack! I used to wear tangas but haven't for about 30 years. My knickers gradually got less and less sexy than older I got! I'm in my late 60s now and you definitely wouldn't like my knickers! They're full briefs, of the sort that that Bridget Jones would be proud to wear! And very comfy! 😂

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I really do find them comfortable. I dont like them to come above my hip bone and like low cut at the front, so very small undies for me

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 28/07/2025 13:15

Mrsbloggz · 28/07/2025 12:55

I also object to the pornification of munsnet, I recommend using the brave browser because it blocks all ads ✊🏻😇

It's the unconsented pornification which is the point.

The Ann Summers' fans are so busy getting their nylon knickers in a twist and shouting "prude" at anyone who doesn't want to see this type of adverts that they can't begin to understand the concept of consent.

Original poster
JustSayWhen · 28/07/2025 13:12

Really my main point is that I don't want to know about anyone else's knickers and I don't want to see them taking up my entire phone screen while I'm reading (sometimes serious and grave) threads. There are plenty of underwear ads that are fine; the Ann Summers ones are overtly sexual. There is nothing wrong with being sexual, but consent is important and images of a sexual nature shouldn't be inserted in the middle of a thread. Doesn't matter whether the reader finds that kind of underwear sexy or not, doesn't matter what the reader's feelings are with regard to sexuality - nudity is something we should opt into, not have thrust upon us!

OP posts: