Honda vows to continue sponsoring Channel 4 after 'Gypsy Weddings'

Honda has vowed to continue sponsoring Channel 4 despite the controversy surrounding Big Fat Gypsy Weddings.

The company confirmed yesterday that it has received some complaints from the public following the show's advertising campaign, which included the slogan: "Bigger. Fatter. Gypsier."

However, Honda has now released a statement clarifying that "both Honda and C4 approved the poster campaign which uses the word 'Gypsier' - the focus of complaints".

"The word 'gypsier' refers to the fact that the series provides greater insight into the communities featured," the company continued. "It was never intended to be offensive."

The company also vowed to keep sponsoring the broadcaster's documentaries, saying: "Honda has a great long-term partnership with C4, doing things differently, challenging the norm, creating debate. Honda's sponsorship of the C4 documentary series has been running for more than four years and will continue."



Honda continued: "We at Honda like the way C4 documentaries bring public interest issues to the fore whether they be one person's life challenge or ethical questions on health research.

"In fact, we would challenge anyone who watches a C4 documentary on any subject not to come away better informed. This is why we created the partnership - it's also the thread which we have tried to bring to the screen in our advertising campaigns in recent times."

The statement concluded: "Honda will continue to work with C4, sponsoring this great series of documentaries which gets under the skin of contemporary Britain, offering a platform to voices not heard elsewhere."