I was recently pondering a phenomenon that seems to be a common theme in Hollywood. Have you ever noticed in movies, men that work in ad agencies are always portrayed as chauvinistic, womanizing pigs? If not, here’s a few examples to jog your memory: Ben Affleck’s alcoholic character in Bounce, Mel Gibson in What Women Want, Eddie Murphy in Boomerang or Matthew McConaughey in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.

All of these characters, however successful in the ad business, were completely loathsome, male chauvinist pigs. I wondered, “Why does this stereotype exist? It doesn’t seem fair to all the great guys in the ad industry that we know and work with.”

Well, my answer came in a barrage of email alerts this week from every industry news source under the sun. Neil French’s comments at a recent industry event were case in point to why admen are seen as such, comments which ultimately resulted in his demise and resignation from WPP.

In speaking to a group of industry professionals, French made reference that women in advertising are “crap,” and this is why there is a lack of female creative talent at the top. French has been back-peddle-quoting all week, saying his comments were taken out of context. However, the comments alone are an unfortunate perpetuation of this stereotype. The reason that Hollywood portrays admen as pigs is because, unfortunately, the out-spoken ones usually are. It’s a shame, but true.

Another even more offensive example of this is Donny Deustch’s recent comments in Fortune magazine. Deustch, in true form, makes reference to a chapter of his new book writing, “I don’t think there’s been a day in my business career when there hasn’t been some woman at work that I fantasized about.” In this same Fortune interview, Deutsch brags of his notoriously outrageous behavior, discussing a profile in New York magazine of how he joked about “about sleeping with another woman in the presence of his wife.”

No wonder the men in the ad industry get a bad rap; it is sensationalist, over-the-top behavior from a select few, “oinkers” that are sending the message loud and clear.

As a member of a pretty kick-ass group of females (the RevoRecruiting Chicks as some call us,) I personally could care less what Neil French says or thinks about women in the ad industry. I know a lot of damn impressive adwomen that run circles around men. All the brouhaha that is resulting from his brazen boorish remarks is not only adding fuel to his fire, it is also providing the precise outcome he was looking for – attention.

As a final note, in addition to the circle-running adwomen out there, we also know some spectacular ad guys. It’s a shame the good guys in the ad industry have to wear the scarlet letter because of a handful of bigmouths. Thanks Neil.