Blacks Cannot Be Perpetrators, Only White People – This is the Conclusion of the Advertising Authority
Transport for London (TfL) has removed an advertisement featuring a black teenager harassing a white girl on a bus, following a single complaint that it perpetuated "racial stereotypes." Meanwhile, several previous ads featuring white men as aggressors were approved. This suggests that, according to the authority, black individuals cannot be portrayed as harassers.
The controversial ad was part of TfL’s „Act Like a Friend” campaign, aimed at encouraging bystanders to intervene in cases of sexual harassment or „hate crimes” on public transport. In the brief clip, a black teenage boy verbally harasses a young white girl while his white friend sits nearby.
However, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) stated that this portrayal, when viewed in isolation, „reinforced a negative racial stereotype” associating black men with threatening behavior. The ASA’s decision came after just one complaint, labeling the ad as „irresponsible” and likely to „cause serious harm,” according to the news portal Zero Hedge.
The local government body “Transport for London” has banned an advert showing a black man harrassing a white girl on bus for ‘reinforcing negative racial stereotypes’
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) February 18, 2026
They stated: „We recognized that there exists a negative racial stereotype linking black men, including teenagers, to threatening behavior. […] The ad, when viewed in isolation, had the effect of reinforcing a negative racial stereotype of black men as perpetrators of threatening behavior.” TfL has been instructed to avoid such „harmful stereotypes” in future advertisements.
TfL issued an apology, with a spokesperson noting: „Our aim is for our advertisements to reflect London’s diverse population and not to reinforce any stereotypes. […] We regret that this social media advertisement […] did not meet our usual high standards when viewed in isolation.”
At the same time, TfL defended the campaign, stating that it showcased a wide range of scenarios reflecting the city’s population.
They banned the most realistic commercial EVER. https://t.co/lsWMv9QWCV
— Pol Atreides (@Aliathewhite) February 18, 2026
Among the additional details was a white man committing a hate crime against a black woman, and another white man targeting a white male victim.
However, Zero Hedge points out that this is all in vain. Cynically, they remark that any instance where a black person is the aggressor must be filtered out. This is unacceptable, as such occurrences clearly NEVER happen in London, and to suggest otherwise is racist. Right?
Similarly, several users have highlighted the hypocrisy.
„Banished the most realistic advertisement ever,” wrote one user.
While another questioned, „Why can only white Brits be villains?”
Of course, similar government anti-harassment ads have also portrayed white men as perpetrators, with diverse victims, and this seems to be perfectly acceptable, the publication notes. They highlight that white villains are considered fair game, while anything else is labeled a „negative racial stereotype,” according to the Modernity news portal.
In this government anti-harassment ad, all the perpetrators are White, and all the victims are diverse.
Media regularly portrays White people as the problem.
This is blatant anti-White racism, and it’s completely unacceptable. pic.twitter.com/clYytRW8gn
— Taya (@travelingflying) February 16, 2026