Iggy Pop in controversial insurance ad
Legendary musician Iggy Pop has managed to court controversy yet again, this time by participating in a £25 million ($36 million) car insurance ad campaign, launched in January. The problem stems from the fact that the insurance company, Swift Cover, refuses to insure musicians.
According to a Billboard.com report, complaints object that it is "misleading because it uses a well-known figure from the music industry to promote an insurance service which they believe excludes musicians," according to an ASA spokesperson. As a result, the ASA has launched an investigation to determine whether the ad breaches the U.K.'s TV Advertising Code.
The company specifically does not cover entertainment industry people saying:
The reason swiftcover.com doesn't cover people in the 'entertainment business' is due to the risk of personal injury. That risk then becomes something for a specialist insurer to take on. Swiftcover.com chose Iggy Pop as the face of its advertising because he loves life, not because he is a musician. "He is an actor demonstrating the benefits of swiftcover.com.