8/13/2013 – OKC, OK — A controversial billboard near downtown Oklahoma City that some claimed was nothing more than an enticement to lure co-eds into prostitution has been removed and replaced by a more positive message.
JohnTV was the first to report on the billboard by ArrangementFinders.com that appeared last month along I-40 near Eastern Ave.
The ad read, “Hey Students, Need a Summer Job? Date a Sugar Daddy.”
Accompanying press releases from the company behind the ad claim the billboard is specifically targeting co-eds on the nearby Oklahoma City University Campus.
ArragementFinders announces new billboard via Twitter.
While ArrangementFinders.com deny their website promotes prostitution, JohnTV’s own Video Vigilante Brian Bates says that’s exactly what is being promoted to the young people they target.
“By definition a ‘sugar daddy’ arrangement is one where typically an older and financially secure male showers a typically younger and attractive female in need of money with jewelry, trips and cash in exchange for companionship that almost always requires sexual activity,” said Bates.
Top: Controversial billboard. Bottom: No Boundaries Response Billboard.
Bates claims the website in question is simply the equivalent of a modern-day pimp.
“A pimp is an individual that seeks out vulnerable and impressionable females and then coerces them into sexual activity with strangers for money,” says Bates.
Bates voiced his concern about the sugar daddy website on JohnTV’s Facebook page and within hours several like minded followers of JohnTV were contacting the Edmond company that sold the advertising space – Vital Outdoor Advertising – and the local news media.
The controversial billboard was covered by local media outlets FOX25 and News9.
Within 24-hours the billboard was removed under the cover of darkness.
ArrangementFinders claims that their website does not promote prostitution and made it clear they had nothing to do with their own billboards removal.
Company Tweets they are not responsible for ads removal.
Almost immediately the Edmond based anti-trafficking non-profit No Boundaries International stepped up to respond to the questionable advertising.
After agreeing to remove the original billboard, Vital Outdoor Advertising offered to donate to No Boundaries a month of free promotion at that very location (along with placement at at least one additional electronic billboard).
Volunteers and staff with No Boundaries immediately began working on not just a message but a direct response to the ArrangementFinders ads that have been appearing near college campuses in several U.S. states for several months.
Over the weekend the response billboard by No Boundaries went up with the message “You’re Worth More than ‘Easy’ Money!”
The billboard production was paid for with a generous sponsorship donation by local criminal defense attorney Scott Adams.
“I am the father of four and my youngest daughter is just now starting college. Kids face many obstacles and quite frankly make many bad decisions as teenagers and young adults and I just don’t feel this sort of predatory behavior is something she or others like her should have to face,” said Adams.
The No Boundaries billboard points readers to a new website at NeverForSale.com.
The new site contains information on ArrangementsFinders.com and sites like them.
The plan is to reach out to other communities facing similar intrusions by companies like ArrangementFinders and to make their billboard, marketing materials and website available for their own response with a more realistic and positive message.
The billboard controversy and unveiling of No Boundaries response billboard was covered by News9 and reporter Lisa Monahan-Tanner.
Special thanks to Vital Outdoor Advertising for removing and donating the billboard space, No Boundaries Int’l for stepping up and seeing a need for a response, Kim Silva with No Boundaries for graphic design, Brian Bates with JohnTV for photography, and attorney Scott Adams for providing funds for production.