New billboard replaces 'Real men' message with 'Much ado about nothing'

WINSTON-SALEM -- A billboard between Winston-Salem and Greensboro sparked controversy and money raising efforts for billboards to counter it. But now it’s been replaced by another message that likely won’t be any more popular.

The “Real men provide. Real women appreciate it.” billboard on Interstate 40 Business West drew criticism for a message some called sexist, misogynistic and anti gender equality.

A new billboard message has replaced it now that reads: “Much Ado About Nothing. A social experiment that brought forth those so immersed in their own insecurity that in the mirror they could only see an angry victim of their incorrect interpretation of a silly billboard – Bless their hearts.”

A GoFundMe campaign “Help Us Send a Counter Message” was set up last week to raise money to pay for a billboard in the Triangle that would say “Gender equality benefits everyone.” As of Sunday, it had raised $5,281 toward a $10,000 goal. The campaign wants to put the new billboard in the Triangle area, since another campaign has been set up to place one in the Greensboro area.

Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article136581828.html

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http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/hbt4n5/picture136582388/ALTERNATES/FREE_960/billboard

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http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/dkb8tj/picture136584568/ALTERNATES/FREE_960/58bb2a5e79b92.image