‘Vulgar’ anti-Kamala Harris billboard in Newark removed after backlash

An advertising company removed a billboard posted in Licking County showing a fake image of Vice President Kamala Harris after a spokesperson said they were made aware of its “vulgar” nature.

The billboard, visible heading westbound on Ohio 16 in Newark, showed a fake, provocative image of Harris about to engage in a sex act. Former President Donald Trump, Harris’ opponent for president, was also on the billboard in a separate image that described him as the defender of the people. The Dispatch is not publishing an image of the billboard because of its crude nature.

Clayton, a spokesperson for Kennedy Outdoor Advertising who declined to share their last name for fear of threats, told The Advocate the company removed the billboard Sunday night after learning about its sexual nature. It had been up since at least Friday afternoon.

Clayton confirmed that RK Towing, a Newark-based towing service, paid for the billboard. An email shared with The Advocate shows RK Towing giving Kennedy Outdoor Advertising permission to disclose that it did so.

“Once it was brought to our attention how vulgar the advertisement actually was, we immediately removed it,” Clayton said. “We don’t condone anything like that, not in any way whatsoever. Whether we agree with it politically or not, we would never agree to do anything like that. That was definitely a mistake.”

The Advocate reached out to RK Towing for comment but did not immediately hear back.

The billboard had a disclaimer at the bottom noting that RK Towing’s owner paid for it, according to Clayton. The disclaimer was difficult to identify in circulated social media images of the billboard, which many users condemned.

Clayton said the company took the billboard down on Sunday “within an hour” of learning about the sexually suggestive nature of it. He said the company was unaware the message in the billboard referenced a sexual act, believing it was simply calling her a “crybaby.”

Clayton said he believes just one person vetted the billboard before the company approved printing it.

“We don’t always look and try to analyze every detail in the design,” Clayton said. “We deal with a lot of artwork so we don’t analyze every little thing. It may only be one person looking at the artwork.

“If there would have been three to four people looking at this artwork, it probably would have never made it to the billboard, obviously. But if there’s one person reviewing it, they may not think anything of it or realize the sexual innuendo that the ad presented. It’s not like the ad goes through five or six people to review and approve it.”

Clayton said the company has received threatening and vulgar messages via email and phone over the billboard. He confirmed that RK Towing frequently advertises with the company.

As of Monday afternoon, the Licking County Board of Elections had not received any calls about the billboard, Director Brian Mead said.

“We’re ashamed of it,” Clayton said. “We don’t want that up on our billboards. It’s horrible.”

Harris and Trump are expected to campaign in several states in the coming days before Election Day.

Advocate reporter Josué Perez can be reached at jhperez@newarkadvocate.com.

This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Harris, Trump billboard in Newark removed over ‘vulgar’ nature

EMEA Tribune is not involved in this news article, it is taken from our partners and or from the News Agencies. Copyright and Credit go to the News Agencies, email news@emeatribune.com Follow our WhatsApp verified Channel