There’s not much (or anything at all) sexy about social distancing. The six-feet apart rule helps keep COVID-19 at bay, but doesn’t do much when it comes to matters of the bedroom.
Still, Playboy has found a way to inject its brand attitude into the social-distancing conversation with its own efforts to combat the virus and take on its guidelines.
As it turns out, instructions for social distancing and having safe sex are hilariously similar. The media brand’s new “PSA” that plays on the clichés viewers might remember from their high school sex-education classes and pairs them with the steps of social distancing. The result is sensual, not to mention amusing.
What might seem like a NSFW video at first reveals itself to be a helpful how-to guide on how to act during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Wear Protection” is updated to reflect the recommendation of wearing masks in public; “Ask Permission” says to ask about boundaries before stepping closer to individuals; “Limit Social Partners” reminds viewers to stay away from gatherings. “Wash Before and After” instructs on the importance of washing hands; “Communicate” encourages viewers to tell those they’ve come in contact with if they think they’re infected; “Abstain” refers to resisting “natural urges” to leave home and see friends. (A caveat: Playboy says abstinence-first is not its approach to sex ed).
"In addition to the obvious innuendos in the campaign, respecting your partners has always been sexy to us and one of our core values at Playboy," said Playboy Chief Marketing Officer Rachel Webber in a statement. “'Stop the spread' has such an intrinsic link with safe sex practices that by playing within these cultural cues, we were able to find a meaningful way to educate while also entertaining in a uniquely Playboy way."