Twitter backlash at "racist" Dove ad.
International cosmetics giants, Dove, last week, Wednesday 4 October 2017, released a new campaign on the company's US Facebook Page showing a short video clip of an African woman taking off her brown T-shirt and turning into a white woman after using the product. The advert has caused worldwide outrage due to the nature of the contents.
The company has attempted to control the damage with the admission that they “missed the mark” in thoughtfully representing women of colour and both apologising for any offence caused by the advert and highlighting that the company doesn’t condone any activity or imagery that insults any audience.
Dove also acknowledged that the campaign doesn’t represent the diversity of real beauty and says the post has since been removed from its social media platforms.
The South African public, as with many around the world, have reacted with outrage as screenshots of the original advert have already been spread across social media, with many calling for a ban on all Dove and Unilever products in South Africa.
Here are some of the reactions of South Africans on twitter:
Racist people don't surprise me...The disturbing part is that someone actually gave this Ad the OK #Dove #Areyoubraindead
— Bilal (@billz_25) October 9, 2017
Apology of #Dove its really not enough
— SongezoMazizi (@songezomazizi) October 9, 2017
What a day. The #Dove #DoveAd story has exhausted me emotionally. I hope y'all black sisters stay away from that brand. Usiku mwema ✌
— Nzinga of Ndongo (@StellaWaAfrika) October 8, 2017
It will be interesting to hear the views of the models on that #Dove advert when they saw a final product?
— WaMphuthi (@WaMphuthi) October 8, 2017
So dark skin is not normal? bayanya laba #Dove pic.twitter.com/PwOQmmoE0U
— Babalwa (@Babalwa_bashies) October 9, 2017
Sunlight soap would never disrespect black people like this #Dove pic.twitter.com/IeCJRC3TqP
— Ctrl+P (@PumezaZibi) October 9, 2017
People who still say that our problems with racism is getting better should just take a look at that #Dove ad. Somebody approved and paid!!!
— Corli van der Merwe (@corlivdmerwe) October 8, 2017
From now on. Dove is extinct guys #dove #DoveAd
— wednesday (@Mashuhdu) October 9, 2017
Been loyal to #dove for 20yrs because I thought it was for all woman but this ad says hate your skin, you’re not beautiful, white is right. pic.twitter.com/q89ZQ1ZtiL
— Molly (@housewived) October 9, 2017
Is there not a single person at #Dove marketing who has the basic human decency needed to see what's wrong with this ad?
— Inge Papp (@Inge_Papp) October 9, 2017
By Dean Workman
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