People want IT: Chapter Two billboards banned because they're traumatising kids

4 September 2019, 15:28

By Nicky Idika

Not everyone is loving the terrifying marketing campaign for IT: Chapter Two. Some parents want roadside billboards banned after children complained the image on the poster was too scary.

IT: Chapter Two is just days away from hitting theatres and audiences are undoubtedly looking forward to the conclusion of the terrifying story, which picks up 27 years after the events of the 2017 remake. Pennywise's appearance has always been one of the more haunting elements of IT, and now some parents want large billboards depicting the clown banned because their children are so scared they cannot sleep at night. Seriously.

According to 9news in Australia, some parents are "lobbying for all roadside billboards of the upcoming horror movie, IT, to be banned" and have even complained to the ad standards agency.

The issue appears to be that the menacing looking roadside billboards are scaring some kids driving past them, including a young Brisbane girl named Piper, who 9news interviewed for the story. Piper says that she sees the "scary picture" in her mind and has to check her bedroom before going to sleep at night. Piper adds she wakes up with nightmares, too.

Here's the billboard that has kids shook.

IT Poster Brisbane Australia scaring children. Picture: 9news

The majority of the Pennywise billboards don't seem to be at risk of coming down anytime soon, though. The ad standards agency said that it has no jurisdiction over the placement of billboards, unless it pertains to language, sex, or sexuality. Though, 9news says one of these billboards near a school has been removed.

This appears to be a case of terrifying advertising working a little too well but, clearly, children aren't the intended audience here. In Australia, the film carries a rating of MA15, while in the US it is rated R. Here in the UK, IT: Chapter Two has a 15 age rating.