‘Snickers’ tweets by stars probed by ad watchdog

Published on Friday 27 January 2012 00:00

Tweets by model Katie Price and footballer Rio Ferdinand are being investigated by the advertising watchdog after they posted pictures of them posing with a Snickers chocolate bar.

They wrote seemingly out of character “teaser” messages about the economy and knitting on their websites, then posted “reveal” tweets with the photographs attached.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said it had received two complaints and had launched a “formal investigation” to establish whether the confectionery manufacturer’s campaign is in breach of advertising codes.

Price, whose Twitter name is @misskatieprice, posted on 22 January, “Great news about China’s latest GDP figures!!” and, “Large scale quantitative easing in 2012 could distort liquidity of govt. bond market. £justsayin”.

Ferdinand, whose Twitter name is @rioferdy5, wrote on 24 January, “Can’t wait 2 get home from training and finish that cardigan,” and, “Cardy finished. Now 4 the matching mittens!!!”

Both the Manchester United defender and the glamour model then wrote: “You’re not you when you’re hungry @snickersUk£hungry£spon.”

Ferdinand, who also plays for England, attached a picture of him tearing open a Snickers wrapper with his teeth and Price posed holding the unopened bar and pointing at it.