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Footwear brand Dunlop Volley has partnered with Ansell Condoms for their latest campaign Grassroots.

The campaign is about “rooting”… in every sense.

“We’re sick of being socially engineered and we shun political correctness,” the website reads.

“Our campaign is all about the celebration of sexual expression whilst remembering to stay safe. Root for us, root for change, root for VOLLEY.”

The video shows near-nude and, at times, completely naked models wearing just one thing – you guessed it, Dunlop Volley sneakers and high socks.

The campaign is especially refreshing in the way it celebrates same-sex relationships.

Viewers see two males kissing while sitting in the boot of a car, and two females kissing on a tennis court (because… Volleys).

There is also some ethnic diversity represented throughout the clip.

The only let down? The lack of diversity in body types.

(If I looked like those models, I too would feel just fine wearing only Volleys and underwear).

But, body types aside, the content of the ad has caused controversy.

Soon after it went live, the Queensland director of the Australian Christian Lobby Wendy Francis issued a warning to parents on Twitter.

“Parents be aware Dunlop Volley still sell sandshoes for school kids, but their website has R rated images as they’re now ‘all about rooting’,” she wrote.

On her Twitter profile, Francis describes herself as a “campaigner for the innocence of children”.

Parents be aware Dunlop Volley still sell sandshoes for school kids, but their website has R rated images as they’re now “all about rooting”

— Wendy Francis (@wendyjoyfrancis) January 17, 2017

Francis copped criticism for her comments. She was called a “bigot” for making the human body seem “shameful” and for fuelling the stigma around sex, instead of adding to the education around safe sex and the risk of sexually transmitted infections.

Francis doubled down on her comments, and the managing director of the Australian Christian Lobby Lyle Shelton also became involved, calling on advertising authorities to “do their job” in censorship.

Volley sandshoes ads are defended as fine for our kids. I’m ridiculed for concern. I’ll cop the ridicule & keep fighting for kid’s innocence pic.twitter.com/7EfPY0ZuLR

— Wendy Francis (@wendyjoyfrancis) January 17, 2017

Politicians have failed to require advertising authorities to do their job. Please phone ???? your MP. https://t.co/fcR3GyJyvH via @MailOnline

— Lyle Shelton (@LyleShelton) January 18, 2017

It’s unlikely the Volley team are fazed by the push back.

With a website introduction that reads: “We’re young and we’re rooting for change. We are children of the sun and are comfortable in our own skin, so don’t tell us who to love or how to be” –controversyis arguably exactly what they’re looking for.

Caitlin Bishop

Content Producer

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