Wicked Campers backs down in slogan row

Wicked Campers has backed down over its use of controversial slogans on its vans, with its owner issuing a written apology.

The campervan hire firm came under fire when Sydney mother Paula Orbea launched a Change.org campaign after her 11-year old daughter took offence to a passing van sprayed with the slogan, “in every princess there’s a little slut who wants to try it just once”. 

"No one is saying don't have a joke, but when you have this perspective putting women in that bubble it's not OK,” Orbea told Fairfax.

The petition gained over 110,000 signatures prompting a written apology from the company's owner John Webb after just four days.

Webb pledged to “acknowledge the prevailing community opinion by removing the slogan in question and making a commitment over the coming six months to changing slogans of an insensitive nature".

The issue also caused a political stir on Wednesday with Australian Greens Senator Larissa Waters putting a motion to the Senate to condemn the “sexist, misogynistic and racist” slogans used on Wicked hire vans.

“We’re calling out these demeaning slogans that promote sexual violence against women, which tragically is a massive problem in Australia,” she said.

“It’s absolutely appalling that apparently some derive humour out of violence against women.

“There are plenty of ways to be edgy, cool and even kinky without degrading women.”.