UTAH COUNTY—Residents of Utah County have been left bubbling with mixed emotions after a local hot tub company unveiled a billboard boldly proclaiming, “We Love Soaking Too.” While some residents found the ad to be a deep dive into clever humor, others called it a slippery slope into inappropriate territory.
The term “soaking,” which has gained notable infamy in Utah for reasons we won’t explain (but you probably already know), left many residents wondering if the billboard’s message was less about warm water jets and more about, well, alternative lifestyle choices.
“TOO HOT TO HANDLE?”
“I saw it on the drive home, and I nearly drove off the road,” said one local commuter, clearly overwhelmed by the steamy innuendo. “I thought it was an innocent hot tub ad, but then I read it again, and it hit me. This is Utah. Nothing is that innocent.”
A SLIPPERY SLOPE
While the billboard has sparked debate over its splashy humor, some have used the moment to air grievances about the sheer volume of billboards along the I-15 corridor.
u/HotTubTheology101 posted:
“Look, if you’re offended by this, maybe the problem isn’t the billboard. Maybe it’s you, Greg. Yes, I’m calling you out, Greg. You brought your own shame into this equation.”
Another user, u/WetAndWild87, chimed in:
“I drive past this sign every day with my kids in the car, and now I have to answer questions like, ‘What’s soaking, Mom?’ So thanks, billboard. Thanks a lot. Now my kids think I don’t know what hot tubs are.”
Meanwhile, u/SqueakyCleanMormon didn’t hold back:
“I’ll tell you what’s inappropriate: my neighbor Dave still mowing his lawn shirtless in November. This billboard? At least it’s seasonal.”
“TO SOAK OR NOT TO SOAK”
Supporters of the ad, however, argue that the billboard isn’t offensive—it’s clever marketing that fits Utah’s reputation for cheeky humor.
“Let’s not blow this out of proportion,” one commenter noted. “The hot tub company was just testing the waters. People are reading way too much into it. If you know what soaking means, then that’s on you, not them.”
Others suggested that the billboard’s uproar has only increased its effectiveness. “If anything, the controversy proves the point—everyone’s talking about soaking now.”
A QUIET BOIL
The hot tub company has yet to comment publicly on the controversy, but sources close to the situation suggest they’re basking in the warm glow of free publicity. Meanwhile, Utahns remain divided over whether the ad is clever or simply over the top.
For now, it seems the debate will bubble on, leaving Utahns with one burning question: Is it time to take the plunge into billboard regulation—or are we all just overthinking this particular soak?
