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Johannesburg - The Advertising Standards Authority has received 20 complaints about FNB's most recent 'Steve' advertisements, the Sunday Times reported.
"Most of the complaints were that the campaign is offensive as it insinuates that all people with the name Steve are stupid or financially declined, and that children with the name Steve will be ridiculed and bullied as a result," ASA spokesperson Mpumi Mda told the newspaper.
However, First National Bank spokesperson Faye Mfikwe said that the bank had nothing against those named Steve.
"The names Steve, Stefan, Stefanos, and even Stephanie are noble, as are the people who bear them." Mfikwe told the newspaper.
"Many of our closest friends, and a number of our valued customers, are named Steve".
Steve was just a warm persona people could identify with.
Twitter has also been aflood with criticism of the campaign. One user has been posting photographs of famous Steves, including Biko, Jobs and Pienaar, with captions such as #proudlysteve.
@peterndoro Help us stand up for Steves all around SA & please RT! #FUFNB #iamsteve #proudlysteve pic.twitter.com/HBZInPkzOt
— I.AM.STEVE. (@ProudlySteve) November 18, 2014Meanwhile Rapport newspaper on Sunday said that following criticism, beauty company Sorbet had pulled a campaign that declared: "Hey Steve, Meet Nancy" who was then described as "unpolished, unwaxed and unloved".
The company published an apology on its website, saying while some praised the campaign, "others - especially women named Nancy - were offended".
LISTEN: Fin24's Matthew le Cordeur speaks to FNB's Bernice Samuels about Steve.
