The 3-second GIF featured a black woman removing her shirt to reveal a white woman underneath, and the soap company apologized for missing 'the mark in thoughtfully representing women of color.'
- Oct 9, 2017
AceShowbiz - After receiving hate comments for its allegedly racist ad, Dove issued an apology on Facebook. The company stated on Sunday, October 8 that it "missed the mark in thoughtfully representing women of color" in the now-deleted 3-second GIF, in which a black woman removed her shirt to reveal a white woman underneath.
"Dove is committed to representing the beauty of diversity. In an image we posted this week, we missed the mark in thoughtfully representing women of color and we deeply regret the offense that it has caused," wrote the company, who later took down the ad from its Facebook page. "The feedback that has been shared is important to us and we'll use it to guide us in the future."
have you even seen the full ad? pic.twitter.com/Ah6aY8nunE
— ζんﾑㄎ乇 ｱ (@ChaseHenryP) October 8, 2017
People previously took to Twitter to criticize the company for the tone-deaf ad. "I cannot conveive of how anyone at Dove thought this ad was acceptable. This is literally how Victorian soap was advertised by Unilever," wrote one user alongside a photo featuring a black boy getting his skin lighter after using the Victorian soap. Another one said, "Thought that Dove ad was fake until the apology happened. People actually sat at a table and said 'Yeah post that picture'?"
I cannot conceive of how anyone at Dove thought this ad was acceptable. This is literally how Victorian soap was advertised by Unilever... pic.twitter.com/m9HH7BVXts
— Hannah Rose Woods (@hannahrosewoods) October 8, 2017
Thought that Dove ad was fake until the apology happened. People actually sat at a table and said "Yeah post that picture"? 😒 pic.twitter.com/DZyj2jMned
— xoNecole (@xonecole) October 8, 2017
Another pointed out that it was not the first time for Dove to make such a racist ad. "Okay, Dove… One racist ad makes you suspect. Two racist ads makes you kinda guilty," the user tweeted. Someone further noted that soap companies doing a racist ad for their products was not something new, saying, "Let's be clear, Dove knew exactly what they were doing with their racist ad. Soap companies used to do this racist theme all the time."
Okay, Dove...
One racist ad makes you suspect.
Two racist ads makes you kinda guilty. pic.twitter.com/hAwNCN84h2
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) October 8, 2017
Let's be clear, Dove knew exactly what they were doing with their racist ad. Soap companies used to do this racist theme all the time pic.twitter.com/EzvAiExNcP
— Tariq Nasheed (@tariqnasheed) October 8, 2017
Another user snarked while attaching a slew of controversial soap ads, "Missed the mark?! Dark skin is not normal? Pure racism, that we haven't seen in soap ads in 100 years." Meanwhile, another user vowed not to buy Dove's products anymore. "I used to love their products. I will now be spending my money on a company that does believe my beautiful bown skin isn't dirty," the user said.
#Dove #Unilever @unileverusa #racism
Missed the mark?! Dark skin is not normal? Pure racism, that we haven't seen in soap ads in 100 years: pic.twitter.com/gdQVao8Vyc
— Jeffersonian (@America1776Z) October 9, 2017
I used to love their products. I will now be spending my money on a company that does believe my beautiful bown skin isn't dirty
— Tiarra (@TiaMarThomas) October 9, 2017
