Spotify 'Horror' Advert Banned For Being 'Too Scary' To Air

A Spotify advert has been banned from broadcast as officials found it 'too scary' to air.

The music streaming platform's ad was filmed in the style of a horror movie, centring around a young couple who can't stop listening to Camilla Cabello's 'Havana'.

But every time the pair play the single, which reached number one in the charts, a horrifically terrifying antique doll comes to life.

This scary doll would then terrorise the couple, hiding in the shower and creeping up behind them in their home. The final shot of the ad shows text, reading: "Killer songs you can't resist," over the top of the doll's face.

You can still watch the advert here, if you're brave enough:

Spotify's creepy advert aired on Youtube during June this year, although a complaint was made to the ASA by a parent.

The complaint said that the advert had caused distress to a child, and it was shown on a channel that kids were likely to watch.

Spotify reportedly argued that users can skip the advert after five seconds, and the doll was only shown 12 seconds into the video.

But the ASA upheld the complaint in part, saying: "The fact that the ad was set inside a home, including a bedtime setting, and featured a doll, meant it was particularly likely to cause distress to children who saw it."

Spotify

The regulatory board also said that it was not clear enough that the advert was not a trailer for a scary film.

"We acknowledge the ruling from the ASA and regret any distress the ad may have caused the complainant," Spotify said in a statement following the ban.

This is not the only time Youtube has removed an advert from its site over viewer complaints that the content was 'too scary'.

A trailer for The Nun was banned earlier this year, with the video streaming platform saying it breached its 'shocking content' policy.

Replying to a viewer complaint on Twitter at the time, Youtube said: "Appreciate you bringing this to our attention! This ad violates our shocking content policy and it's no longer running as an ad. More info here: https://goo.gl/Yo1GHL."

Topics: Music News, Music Entertainment, YouTube

Rachel Andrews

Rachel Andrews is an NCTJ trained Journalist at PRETTY52. She specialises in Fashion and Beauty Journalism, and has experience at a range of online and print publications and joined the team in 2017. Contact her - [email protected]

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