Those who suffer from shy bladder syndrome are asking DirecTV to stop playing an advertisement that stars Parks and Recreations actor Rob Lowe as an awkward version of himself who appears to have the syndrome, according to USA Today.
USA Today reports that the ad is part of a campaign that shows the benefits from switching to satellite television. The commercials feature two versions of Lowe: one Lowe who owns DirecTV and has a luxurious lifestyle while the other Lowe owns cable and leads an undesirable lifestyle.
The commercial in question features the “Painfully Awkward” Rob Lowe, who dresses like that of a typical nerd with a button-up white shirt and a fanny pack. The character mentions at one point in the advertisement that he cannot urinate in the bathroom with other people being in the room, while the other Lowe character says to not be like him.
Steve Soifer, CEO of the International Paruresis Association, said that the commercial is in “poor taste and ridicules a serious problem,” 7 percent of Americans to suffer from shy bladder syndrome. Paruresis is a type of phobia in which the sufferer is unable to urinate in front of others, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
"We don't mind if people have a little fun with it," Soifer said. "It's a situation that a lot of people don't understand. In this particular case, the portrayal is making it look ridiculous, that this guy is a loser for having a problem.”
Despite the association’s response, DirecTV spokesperson Darris Gringeri said that the commercial will not stop airing.
"The ads will continue to run for the vast majority of viewers who have told us they enjoy the spots and understand that, like all of our commercials, they take place in a fantasy world and are not based in reality," Gringeri said.
Lowe, who stars in other commercials for the television provider, has also appeared on The West Wing, Wayne's World and Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.
Image courtesy of Kristin Callahan/ACE/INFphoto.com