The "Absolut Hunk" advert, featuring actor Jason Lewis lying on
a bed, naked except for a carefully-positioned bottle of vodka, was
used in an episode of the Sex and the City series in which sex-mad
PR hotshot Samantha Jones launches the career of her toy boy lover,
a struggling model/actor.
The fake ad was created using the same advertising agency and
photographer normally used by the Absolut Spirits Company,
according to AdAge.com.
But its report says the Absolut Spirits Company cashed-in on the
publicity by using the photograph on-line, marketing the ad as
genuine, and creating a special "Absolut Hunk" cocktail – all
without the permission of the Lewis.
Lewis has sued, saying that in the past he has avoided work
connected to alcohol, guns, tobacco and nudity, and that the
"Absolut Hunk" ad should not have been used out with the television
show without his consent.
Absolut Spirits has made no comment.
