Nivea's Racist Ad Towards Afro-Americans

sleepymeko · 08-18-2011, 07:11 PM

Here's the picture...

Amneris · 08-18-2011, 07:21 PM

Seriously? WOW.

sleepymeko · 08-18-2011, 07:24 PM

I'm trying to figure out why they don't have someone there to go: "You know, maybe this is a bit offensive..."

kairo1821 · 08-18-2011, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleepymeko

I'm trying to figure out why they don't have someone there to go: "You know, maybe this is a bit offensive..."

Exactly!

On the CELL

itsiliii · 08-18-2011, 08:11 PM

W...T....F

Lucky Charm · 08-18-2011, 08:27 PM

they posted an apology on Facebook this morning:

Quote:

Thank you for caring enough to give us your feedback about the recent "Re-civilized" NIVEA FOR MEN ad. This ad was inappropriate and offensive. It was never our intention to offend anyone, and for this we are deeply sorry. This ad will never be used again. Diversity and equal opportunity are crucial values of our company.

Still, I cant believe this ad... glad they got the sense to remove it.

roseannadana · 08-18-2011, 08:29 PM

I saw an update where they've pulled the ad and apologized.

Nivea's New Ad Racist? -UPDATE - Forbes

coilynapp · 08-18-2011, 08:36 PM

In the words of turtles...Doubya Teee Efff

That is fcuking offensive. Not just a little. A LOT

It's doubly offensive. Not only is it offensive on the racial history side ("civilize" as black people were always being called savages and uncivilized the world over), it's also offensive in terms of afro textured hair...."naaah son, you don't want that afro nappy stuff, buzz cut it...look like a man"--->coz black men w/afros are not men

How in god's name did they not see this was offensive...HOW? I guess SOME people need some history lessons...damn

They need to hire some folks with some sensibility to stop them from being FIDIOTS

....really, even the PR person didn't say anything??

sleepymeko · 08-18-2011, 08:39 PM

I honestly do not care for the apology since they needed people to complain for them too see that it was an offensive ad. I remember seeing that anthropologists work for companies, and Nivea really needs to hire some anthropologists to make them more culturally aware of what is appropriate and inappropriate.

Josephine · 08-18-2011, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleepymeko

I honestly do not care for the apology since they needed people to complain for them too see that it was an offensive ad. I remember seeing that anthropologists work for companies, and Nivea really needs to hire some anthropologists to make them more culturally aware of what is appropriate and inappropriate.

I agree and I don't understand what kind of people work there that could not see how blatantly offensive this is. If you have to tell someone how offensive and wrong something is, then what's the point of an apology. Idiots.

blissdrops · 08-18-2011, 09:08 PM

Why was it offensive because it was an afro?

LadyV69 · 08-18-2011, 09:17 PM

That ad is totally offensive. You can bet that if they had used a white guy with long, stringy hair, they wouldn't have used the words "Re-civilize yourself" because they're the standard of beauty. And I'm giving a side-eye to their apology since I'm not sure how sincere they are. Luckily, I don't buy anything from Nivea anyway.

Narnia · 08-18-2011, 09:48 PM

I don't like this, because I love nivea products, but this is so blatantly offensive..

perfectlyimperfect_curls · 08-18-2011, 10:10 PM

Kinda makes you wonder what kind of diversity in their offices. Maybe not offensive to all, but def not the best decision.

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coilynapp · 08-18-2011, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blissdrops

Why was it offensive because it was an afro?

Ummm where do you live?

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Bianca · 08-18-2011, 10:25 PM

The "savages" part is offensive, yes.

I think I'm equally, if not more, offended by the "Look like you give a damn" part.

This is the only ad that I've seen so maybe that's the campagin slogan, but I get soooo tired of thick natual longer hair that's loose being equated to "not giving a damn".

*Sigh* Some people's hair just grows big and curly. I am one of those people with big curly hair. I give a damn. Just look at my PJ budget (or lack thereof). Just because you wear your hair the way it grows out of your head doesn't mean you don't give a damn.

apollo · 08-18-2011, 10:32 PM

I don't think its offensive. I get what they were trying to portray. I see a clean cut guy, getting rid of his old ways of not shaving and letting his hair grow out. This is pretty much showing a guy with a make over from using the product. Would it have been different if they used another race? How do we know that this guy is even black? He could be another race.....

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ThickHairedQT · 08-18-2011, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apollo

I don't think its offensive. I get what they were trying to portray. I see a clean cut guy, getting rid of his old ways of not shaving and letting his hair grow out. This is pretty much showing a guy with a make over from using the product. Would it have been different if they used another race? How do we know that this guy is even black? He could be another race.....

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I get what you're saying but it still is offensive. They didn't execute this ad properly. We don't know what the man's race is but, he has brown skin and history shows us is that races with brown or darker complexion were depicted as savages and uncivilized.

coilynapp · 08-18-2011, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apollo

I don't think its offensive. I get what they were trying to portray. I see a clean cut guy, getting rid of his old ways of not shaving and letting his hair grow out. This is pretty much showing a guy with a make over from using the product. Would it have been different if they used another race? How do we know that this guy is even black? He could be another race.....

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what other race?

you can choose to not be offended, that doesn't mean that it is not offensive

the problem is that, they are equating the not shaving and growing your hair out (in an afro) is "uncivilized" and they are using a Black model to do it. Black people (or oppressed people in general if you want to say the model is not Black (he is)) have historically (and evidently currently) been called savages and uncivilized and unevolved...

why is clean cut and buzz shaven better? There are LOTS of men with facial hair and afros that look just as good as a clean shaven man

ok. exercise. replace the black man with a black woman with freshly relaxed (or weaved up) silky, bone straight hair throwing the head of a woman who has a banging big ass kinky afro, same caption...think it's offensive now?

Bianca · 08-18-2011, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleepymeko

I'm trying to figure out why they don't have someone there to go: "You know, maybe this is a bit offensive..."

Ditto. Is only one person resonsible for pitching, creating, and marketing an ad? Whenever I see ads or products like this that are later recalled and someone "apologizes", I always think of the movie "Drop Squad" with the guy from ER.

I don't remember the movie well but I know he's a black man who works for an agency and helps to develop racist ad campaigns. Instead of stepping up and saying "no", he develops and promotes racist adverstisments. I think he gets kidnapped by Black Panthers or something...

Not an award winning film by any means but the message is clear none the less.