A cookbook author’s Times Square ad was reportedly taken down for being too spicy.

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A cookbook author’s Times Square ad was reportedly taken down for being too spicy.

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The digital billboard, which measured a reported 45 feet tall, showed Molly Baz holding two oatmeal cookies over her chest and her pregnant belly exposed. The ad, with the tagline “Just Add Milk,” promoted Baz’s recipe for lactation cookies in partnership with breastfeeding company Swehl. But after three days, the ad was reportedly replaced with a more covered up image of Baz. The reason for the swap? The ad’s original photo reportedly violated “guidelines on acceptable content.” The photo change has some pointing to a double standard in advertising.

What do you mean?

Skims and other underwear ads have previously run in Times Square. But as Baz put it, somehow her photo was “a little too much” for people to handle. One of Swehl’s co-founders said this situation shows how there’s “systemic shame of our bodies and breasts at the highest levels.” It’s not the first time the advertising world has tip-toed around women’s health. It wasn’t until a few years ago that ads for menstrual pads swapped out blue fluid with red. Last year, lawmakers asked the FTC to investigate Meta for rejecting sexual health ads for women, but allowing those for men.

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A breastfeeding ad has put a spotlight on the advertising world. It’s sparking conversations about the level of scrutiny some women-led brands still face and what’s considered too revealing.

Where gold bars may carry some weight…

Sen. Bob Menendez’s (D-NJ) criminal trial. Today marks the start of the senator's second bribery and corruption trial within a decade. This time, Menendez faces 16 felony counts, including extortion and obstruction of justice, for allegedly accepting gifts in exchange for helping Egyptian and Qatari officials close business deals. Prosecutors said Menendez received gold bars, cash, a convertible Mercedes, and Formula 1 race tickets, to name a few. Menendez could spend the rest of his life in prison if convicted on all charges. His defense could include blaming his wife and bringing in a psychiatrist to testify about his habit of keeping piles of cash. Menendez has maintained he is innocent amid calls from his Democratic colleagues to resign.

…Oh and speaking of trials, Michael Cohen — former President Trump’s ex-lawyer who allegedly paid hush money to Stormy Daniels — is expected to testify today.

Where humanitarian concerns are mounting…

Gaza. The UN warned the southern city of Rafah could soon run out of food aid. It comes as at least 300,000 people have fled Rafah ahead of an Israeli ground offensive, according to the UN. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Antony Blinken gave one of the Biden administration’s harshest public criticisms of Israel’s conduct during the war. In a pair of TV interviews yesterday, Blinken said that Israel lacked a “credible plan” to protect the more than 1 million Palestinian civilians in Rafah, adding that an assault on the city “risks doing terrible harm” without eliminating a lasting insurgency from Hamas.

What won’t be at every Target location…

Pride merchandise. The retailer confirmed that its LGBTQIA+ merch will be limited to select stores and its website this year. It comes after Target experienced backlash and a boycott last year, prompting the company to take down some of its Pride merch. Target didn’t say which stores would move forward with Pride displays but that it would make its decisions based on “guest insights and consumer research.”

What’s redefining ‘look good, feel good’...

“Dopamine dressing.”

What the Miami Beach Police Department added to its squad...

A Rolls-Royce.

Who reminded everyone she is “mother”...

Maya Rudolph.

Wake your brain up this Monday with a game of Flipart. Just rotate the pieces to fit within the frame and get ready to feel the rush when they all fall into place. Get into it.