‘Sex and the City’ ads replaced in Israel

Orthodox Jews complain about Parker's skimpy clothing

Yossi Aloni / Reuters

A combination photo shows two versions of a billboard poster of "Sex in the the City" star Sarah Jessica Parker in Tel Aviv. On the left the American actress is seen lying in a skin-revealing, spaghetti strap gown. On the right two workers replace the old version with a long-sleeve gown. Ultra-Orthodox Jews took offense at the sight of Parker's arms, back, shoulders and even a little thigh.

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updated 11:45 a.m. ET Nov. 24, 2004

JERUSALEM - It looks like Sarah Jessica Parker is too sexy for some Israelis’ tastes.

A poster and billboard campaign showing the “Sex and the City” actress in a skimpy, sequined dress was quickly replaced with new ads of her in a dress that covered her arms, back and thigh, reportedly after ultra-Orthodox consumers objected to her outfit.

The sexy ads promoting Lux soaps had begun appearing on billboards across the country in recent days. But after an angry phone call from a prominent rabbi, the consumer goods giant Unilever quickly gave Parker a more modest wardrobe, the Haaretz daily reported.

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Ultra-Orthodox Jews, who require women to dress modestly, account for roughly 10 percent of the Israeli population, making them a sizable market for local Unilever products.

A spokesman for Unilever Israel said Wednesday the wardrobe was altered — just days after the posters first appeared — to be more suitable for the arrival of winter in Israel.

“The winter came suddenly. Last week it was summer. Now it’s rainy and cold. Everyone has the flu,” said the spokesman, who declined to give his name.

He said company officials were unavailable to discuss the reported complaints by religious Jews.