Being deliberately similar to the
taboo word "
fuck", French Connection's use of "fcuk" caused widespread controversy. In addition, there was heavy criticism that French Connection and other advertisers are "free to put up offensive posters, gain huge impact from them, and then - when they are ordered down (often after the campaign has run its course) - to notch up even more publicity".
[7][10] Following a number of complaints about advertising campaigns using the initialism, the UK's
Advertising Standards Authority requested that the company submit all poster campaigns for approval before running them.
[10]In the United States, the
American Family Association urged a boycott of fcuk products.
[11]