Virgin Atlantic Airways on Friday scrapped plans to install bright-red urinals shaped like women’s open lips at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, saying it had received complaints they were offensive.
“Virgin Atlantic was very sorry to hear of people’s concerns about the design of the ‘Kisses’ urinals to be fitted into our clubhouse at JFK Airport. We can assure everyone who complained to us that no offense was ever intended,” Virgin spokesman John Riordan said in a statement.
Riordan said the British company received several dozen complaints from people and groups including the National Organization for Women after its plans for the urinals were made public. NOW had posted a message on its Web site urging members to complain to Virgin chief Richard Branson.
“I don’t know many men who think it’s cool to pee in a woman’s mouth, even a porcelain one,” said NOW President Kim Gandy on the group’s Web site.
The urinal, designed by a Dutch company, was the idea of a female designer. Riordan said Virgin was surprised by the negative reaction to the plan, part of designs for the lounge, built to pamper first-class customers.