Ultra-Thin Model Of Ralph Lauren Ad Sparks Uproar

Here's the latest image to spark uproar in the old brewing debate of using digitally altered photographs of models in advertising and fashion magazines:

a Ralph Lauren advertisement featuring Filippa Hamilton in all her ultra-thin glory.


The photo first appeared on a blog called Photoshop Disasters, with a comment that says, "Dude, her head's bigger than her pelvis." It attracted much publicity after being posted by Boing Boing later on its website.

The Ralph Lauren management was none too pleased over the controversy the posts have sparked so they filed a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) complaint over the two companies. According to the management, the "use of the image was a copyright infringement that fell outside of the Fair Use laws which allow the media to reproduce creative content for the purposes of commentary and criticism."

As a response, Photoshop Disasters removed the post. But Boing Boing, Canada's Priority Colo, refused to do so. Instead, it posted a warning for Ralph Lauren on its website that says:

"Copyright law doesn't give you the right to threaten your critics for pointing out the problems with your offerings. You should know better. And every time you threaten to sue us over stuff like this, we will:

a) Reproduce the original criticism, making damned sure that all our readers get a good, long look at it, and;

b) Publish your spurious legal threat along with copious mockery, so that it becomes highly ranked in search engines where other people you threaten can find it and take heart; and

c) Offer nourishing soup and sandwiches to your models."

Ralph Lauren's attempt to put a stop to the critics apparently did not help. It only increased the negative attention surrounding the controversial ad.

Actually, the problem is not on the useful digital photo enhancement process. If only Ralph Lauren did not alter the model so thin that her waist appears smaller than her head...