Knightley's Anti-Domestic Violence Advert Banned

27 April 2009

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An anti-domestic violence advert starring Keira Knightley has been banned from British television after it was branded too violent by advertising censors.

The Atonement star plays an actress returning home from a film set to be confronted by a violent boyfriend who accuses her of having an affair with a co-star, before attacking her and knocking her to the floor.

The harrowing promo - made for U.K. charity Women's Aid - ends with Knightley being repeatedly kicked on the floor, and advertising approval body Clearcast has deemed the scene too violent for broadcast.

The reason we are still in conversation with Clearcast about it is because it is too violent

The advert, called The Cut, launched in British cinemas this month (Apr 09) and has been viewed more than a million times on YouTube, but will only air on television if scenes showing Knightley being thrown to the floor and beaten are removed.

Chris Hirst, managing director of Grey London Advertising Agency which created The Cut, says, "The reason we are still in conversation with Clearcast about it is because it is too violent. Part of the campaign is to raise awareness about domestic violence, and spark debate, which the advert has done, even if it doesn't make it on television".

The advert was created by Joe Wright, who directed of two of Knightley's hit films, Atonement and Pride and Prejudice.