In The News

Menino demands movie ads be dumped
By Jessica Heslam
Boston Herald Media Reporter
Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - Updated: 12:41 AM EST

Faced with public outrage and a city grappling with increasing violence, Mayor Thomas M. Menino yesterday ordered the removal of dozens of “I Shot My Wife” movie posters displayed on bus shelters across Boston.

“The violent nature of these ads, when he saw them, he felt that they only promoted a negative and violent message and asked that they be removed immediately,” said the mayor’s spokeswoman, Dot Joyce.

With “I Shot My Wife” written in large lettering, the posters promote the upcoming Hollywood thriller “Fracture,” in which Anthony Hopkins plays a man found innocent of shooting his wife.

Fifty posters were put up at bus shelters throughout the Hub last month and were expected to be on display until April 23. Wall USA Inc.built and maintains the bus shelters for the city in exchange for the advertising rights. “We are removing the posters based on input from the community and the mayor’s office,” said Wall USA president Martin McDonough.

McDonough said the ads would be taken down by yesterday’s end. The filmmakers had shelled out $52,000 for the ad campaign.

“We’re thrilled that they took them down,” said Mary Lauby, executive director of Jane Doe Inc.

While the city chose to take down the offensive ads, MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo said the “I Shot My Wife” posters met the agency’s advertising guidelines.

The MBTA displayed a dozen of the movie posters inside three subway stations, including Harvard Square, Copley and Government Center, during a monthlong campaign that ended earlier this week. Pesaturo said the ads were taken down because the campaign had run its course.