Gerston Taken to Task Over a Risque Web Site
Rivals excoriated Los Angeles City Council candidate Ken Gerston on Monday for his link to a firm called Bad Pig Creations, whose Web site contains scantily clad models called “Bad Pig Girls” marketing jewelry made by Gerston.
Gerston, who reported to the city Ethics Commission that his firm Ubiquitous Inc. received more than $10,000 from Bad Pig Creations, said he simply makes the jewelry as a vendor for the motorcycle accessory firm and has no creative control over how it is marketed.
“I’ve never seen the Web site,” said Gerston, a Sherman Oaks businessman who is the leading San Fernando Valley candidate for the 5th District seat in fund-raising.
“I condemn that,” he added. “I am very pro-woman.”
But other candidates in the race said they hold Gerston responsible for the marketing of the jewelry on the Web site, which includes a woman in lace underwear holding a Bad Pig bumper sticker across her otherwise bare chest.
“Having fought to keep a Hooters bar out of Westwood, I find this offensive,” said Laura Lake, one of 11 candidates vying to succeed Mike Feuer as the 5th District council member. “Any vendor would check out the advertising ahead of time, and this advertising is offensive.”
Candidate Steve Saltzman said it was demeaning to women to call them Bad Pig Girls.
“Having viewed the site, my own company would use or portray women in a much more sensitive manner,” Saltzman said.
Jill Barad, another candidate in the race, said that although she favors the 1st Amendment, the Web site “calls into question the kinds of business in which he [Gerston] is involved.
“Is this the kind of business and leader we need on the City Council?” Barad said.
Gerston said he was asked by Bad Pig Creations owner Brian Olea to manufacture bracelets and necklaces designed by Olea that are made to look like barbed wire or feature the face of a sunglasses-wearing pig. Gerston said he was paid about $12,000 for the work.
“I don’t have any idea how he sells it,” Gerston said, adding that he knows the brand is popular with police officers “because it has the word ‘pig’ in it.”
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Among the scantily clad Bad Pig Girls featured on the Web site is “BonBon,” who holds the bumper sticker across her chest with the caption, “This 36-24-35 beauty is a former Playboy playmate.”
Another woman wearing a Bad Pig halter top sits next to a hot tub. The caption says, “Would you believe this hot babe is a police officer? Jacuzzi anyone?”
Olea, who owns the Chatsworth company, confirmed the marketing scheme is his idea and that Gerston “has nothing to do with it.”
As for the use of scantily clad women to bring attention to his jewelry line, Olea said, “Unfortunately, society is such that sex and women and models are used to sell products. “In defense of this, women make up seven out of 10 of our sales,” he added. “They are one of our biggest clients.”
Meanwhile, Victor Viereck, another candidate, filed a formal complaint with the Los Angeles Ethics Commission on Monday, alleging that Gerston approached him several times offering to help get Viereck a city appointment if he would agree to drop out of the race. Gerston has denied making such an offer.
