Posters promoting the horror film The Mummy have been banned from the London Underground, over fears the realistic depiction of a deceased child could be distressing.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) received 30 complaints regarding advertisements for Lee Cronin’s new film.
This includes a poster on the tube and an outdoor billboard, which featured a close-up image of a mummified female figure with one eye swollen shut, covered in brown material.
The accompanying text read: “Some things are meant to stay buried. Lee Cronin’s The Mummy.”
open image in galleryWarner Bros said the poster ads had been prepared with “due responsibility to consumers and society”, and were not designed to create fear or distress.
However, Tube adverts must follow strict guidelines, such as no political content or adverts showing food high in fat or sugar.
Here are five adverts that have been banned:
Ed Gamble’s tour poster
Comedian Ed Gamble was forced to remove a picture of him eating a hot dog from posters promoting his stand-up tour on the Tube in 2024.
Originally the posters for his show Hot Diggity Dog were designed to show him with the fast food but the poster failed to comply with Transport for London’s (TfL) policy on featuring foods high in fat, sugar and salt.
open image in galleryThe comedian instead swapped the hot dog for a cucumber to get the promotional material on display.
In a post on Instagram, Gamble described the incident as a “career highlight” and said: “TfL told me I couldn’t have a hot dog on my poster to promote my @hackneyempire shows in June. I guess I’m dangerous? So I’ve replaced it with a cucumber. Eat your greens, Kids!”
Kneecap poster
A poster advertising the Irish rap trio Kneecap was banned from being displayed on the Tube in 2025 over fears it would “cause widespread or serious offence to reasonable members of the public.”
The poster in question shows the Kneecap logo, based on the balaclavas worn by paramilitaries during the Troubles.
open image in galleryIt read: “Kneecap. OVO Arena Wembley, London. Thurs 18th September ’25.”
“Speak out against genocide and they’ll use every single angle they can to silence you,” the group said in a social media post following the ban.
An advert for artisanal cheese
Posters advertising an artisanal cheese company were banned in 2023 from the London Underground for promoting an unhealthy diet that’s high in saturated fat.
The posters put forward by business premises provider Workspace had the text: “From crunching numbers to selling cheese online, it all happens at Workspace”.
It featured an image of a hand typing at a calculator and another of some cheese, alongside the names of two Workspace tenants – an accountancy company, and London-based online cheese shop Cheesegeek, The Evening Standard reported.
But because the advert went against TfL’s policy on featuring foods high in fat, sugar and salt, it was banned.
The founder of Cheesegeek, Edward Hancock, said the decision was “ridiculous” and that it categorises cheese “alongside genuine junk food”.
Red Bull advert
A Red Bull advert was banned in 2019 for suggesting the energy drink can increase focus and concentration.
Posters on the London Underground suggested the caffeinated drink could help workers finish work and leave by 4pm.
open image in galleryOne poster said: “The secret to finishing early … Because to leap every hurdle a hectic day brings, you just need to know: Red Bull gives you wiiings … For a flying 4pm finish on 14th September visit Redbull.co.uk/4pmfinish.”
A reader complained to ASA, saying the ad implied the drink had a beneficial effect on health, in particular focus and concentration.
Upholding the complaint, the ASA said the ad’s tone was light-hearted but presented a scenario of being overwhelmed or busy at work that would be familiar and relatable to consumers.
Red Bull explained the ad promoted the 4pm finish “consumer initiative”, which encouraged workers to leave one hour early.
A funeral comparison advert
Adverts from Beyond, a funeral comparison site, were banned by TfL after the company tried to break the “taboo” around death.
The proposed advert showed beachgoers running with coffins in place of surfboards, with 870 degrees written in the corner alongside a pun on “roasting temperatures” and cremations.
But TfL didn’t allow the adverts in 2018 and said it had a “serious responsibility” over advertising, the BBC reported.