About a week ago, we wrote about the debut of NARS cosmetics on QVC, where host Lisa Robertson was banned from saying the name of one of the makeup line’s blushes: Orgasm.
It seemed ridiculous to us, but Robertson and the NARS rep were only able to refer to that particular color as “O” or “starts with an ‘O,’ ends with an ‘M.'” QVC did, however, run the color’s name on-screen.
Well, that NARS shows sparked a lively debate on QVC’s online forums, with some viewers skewering the home shopping channel for being silly and prudish; and others taking QVC’s side, criticizing NARS.
One of the posters cracked us up, when she joked that QVC wouldn’t allow the word “orgasm” to be said on-air because “they don’t want to make any false ‘medical claims.'”
Robertson had said that censors barred her from saying the Big O. One QVC poster found that hard to believe, writing, “After all, it’s not among the 7 dirty words that can’t be uttered, as per FCC rulings. (Hope this makes it by the censors!!!)”
Wrote another poster, “I think it was very childish of them not to call the Nars blush Orgasm as that is what it is named. Constantly saying the blush that starts with an ‘O’ and ends with an ‘M’ was so annoying. I love this product and have worn it for quite some time now. Good to know that the Q offers it, but guys, c’mon and grow up. If it’s written on screen in full during it’s showing, why not just say the word? After all, as per Lisa and the rep, “it’s the most popular choice among the blushes.”
But others blasted NARS, not QVC.
“I think it’s disgusting that NARS has to name their products these names,” said one poster. “Can’t the product stand alone without the s-xual names?”
She wasn’t the only one who felt that way.
“I TOTALLY agree with you, Missy,” another QVC poster wrote. “If anything is childish, it’s this company stooping to such a level of product naming. This couldn’t be more ridiculous, disgusting or inappropriate.”
But yet another poster shot right back.
“What’s disgusting about it?” she wrote. “It’s not a swear word or a ‘dirty’ word or an obscene word. Obviously, it’s meant to invoke a certain experience that most people find enjoyable, and the word, especially in its adjective form, is quite often used in a general way to describe anything that supposedly resembles that unique experience.”
Wrote a poster, “I had to read this blog twice! ARE YOU PEOPLE SERIOUS? We are all adults here. OK-so QVC didn’t want to say the word O—-M. Fine. But I too wonder what is wrong with the rest of you that are so prim and proper you are ridiculing the company itself for having used a name like that or using s-xual-like names in general. The company is classy and does not come off vulgar at all. It is a beautiful color by the way.”
By the way, Orgasm is on wait-list on QVC.