Offensive Nipple!?

I came upon the following news item and thought I would share it with you. - “BBC bosses ordered an auction house to remove a neo-classical oil painting of a semi-naked woman in case her exposed nipple offended viewers. Auctioneer Alan Aldridge was being filmed for Flog it!, BBC2’s daytime antique programme, when the production team asked him to take down the 19th-century oil painting. It features the mythical Greek goddess Ariadne holding a goblet of wine with her left breast exposed.

Mr Aldridge, who runs Aldridge Auctioneers in Devizes, Wiltshire, offered to cover the offending nipple, but was still told to take the canvas down.
He said: ‘It is absolutely ridiculous. This is a 19th century neo-classical work of art. I can’t imagine anyone getting offended over a naked female nipple these days. I tried putting a Post-It note over the offending part of her anatomy, but that wasn’t good enough apparently.’

Flog it! presenter Paul Martin defended the decision saying viewers would complain. He said: ‘Yes, they had to have the painting moved. It wasn’t a big deal but they do get complaints about this sort of thing. You’d be surprised.’ Viewers of the 30-minute programme, which involves members of the public trying to make money out of their antiques, will however see a single strand of Elvis Presley’s hair being sold for £350. and a collection of football programmes sold for £670.”

Hang on - what exactly IS offensive here? ~ John

In Greek mythology, Ariadne was the daughter of King Minos of Crete and his Queen Pasiphak, daughter of Helios, the sun Titan. She helped Theseus overcome the Minotaur and was also the bride of the god Dionysus.