Have you ever driven past a billboard and had to do a double take?

Or almost spat out your cup of tea on hearing Sir David Attenborough talk of cock-bells (icicles) and cockchafers (large beetles) during his narration on Planet Earth?

Well, this is the reaction we had when we recently spotted a photo of a Consent Condom on Reddit.

Condom wrapper | ELLE UKpinterest
Reddit: wrags23

The Reddit user who posted the snap claimed they were handed the condom on a college campus. At first glance, it looks to be a white condom wrapper with a small picture of a doughnut and the words 'go further without consent'.

Yes, that's right, the slogan reads 'go further without consent'.

As a result, the seemingly outrageous phrasing has caused uproar on social media for its apparent promotion of rape and sexual assault.

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Unfortunately for the marketing team behind the condoms, the picture of the doughnut was originally intended to stand in for the words 'do not'.

So, in actual fact, the wrapper's slogan should read 'do not go further without consent'.

*Places fist in mouth*

The condoms are sold by Say It With A Condom whose website explains the aim of customised 'consent condoms' are intended to 'start a conversation about how to ask for consent before engaging in any sexual activity'.

Consent condoms | ELLE UKpinterest
sayitwithacondom.com

While organisations such as Planned Parenthood, Think Progess and the Huffington Post have praised the brand's promotion of safe, consensual sex, we think they might need to have a rethink when it comes to their packaging.

For example, what is this slogan meant to say?

Consent condoms | ELLE UKpinterest
sayitwithacondom.com

You must handlebar moustache for my consent?

You must Sherlock Holmes for my consent?

Apparently, the slogan is supposed to read: 'You moustache (must ask) for my consent'.

Now, we're not being funny, but when you're in the heat of the moment, you don't really want to be debating with your other half whether the moustache icon is more Poirot than Sherlock Holmes, do you?

We love Consent Condom's aim to create open conversations about consent and sex, but they might want to reconsider the clarity of their condom wrappers in future.

Headshot of Katie O'Malley
Katie O'Malley
Site Director

Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.