Naked charity stunts get bum rap

If there's one stunt that can be guaranteed to generate some publicity for your organisation/product/cause it's public nudity. Presenting the media with a photo opportunity of people flashing their flesh has proven a surefire hit in the past and it continues to ensure coverage (I'm blogging about it now, so there you go).

The latest event to encourage the casting off of clothes is The World Naked Bike Ride, which is the largest nude protest event in history. Taking place this month at various cities across the UK including London, Cardiff, Brighton and Manchester, it is expected to mobilise over 2,000 riders in a demonstration against oil dependency. The event is now in its fifth year and takes place in over 50 locations worldwide.

Other recent strips in the name of charity have included model Nell McAndrew's topless run to promote Cancer Research UK, and Peta's poster of a naked pregnant woman in a cage to highlight the plight of pigs.

However, whilst this rash (is it inappropriate to use the word 'rash' in a post about nudity?) of campaigns based around being in the buff have secured media coverage and word of mouth, is the public beginning to tire of this stunt? And are these campaigns only serving to overshadow their messages?

Certainly Sara Gaines thinks so, and I'm inclined to agree. Sara says:

Charities must believe such titillating events work, but on what level? They may guarantee a picture in a few papers but that is not the same thing as recruiting donors. It's questionable if people remember the charity behind each strip or notice the message they are trying to get across. Surely they risk putting many people off. I'd rather be kept abreast of charity campaigns in a less literal way.

We could be witnessing the beginning of a backlash - something for other charities to bare in mind.