Thailand in more racism controversy: Dunkin’ Donuts and Unilever
The southeastern Asian country of Thailand is embroiled in news of racial insensitivity again because of two advertisements from companies doing business in the country.
An advertiser for a skin-whitening cream, which seemed to offer university scholarships to students with fairer skin has began a debate over racism in Thailand again.
The Guardian reports yesterday, “The “Citra search for clear, soft and glowing skin” asked female students to submit photographs of themselves in their university uniform along with a bottle of Citra Pearly White UV body lotion, for a reward of 100,000 baht (£2,000). Citra is a Thai subsidiary of Unilever.”
The ad seems to imply a difference in intelligence based on skin tone and color. The ad featured two college students–one with fair skin and one with darker skin–who were asked a question that the fairer skinned girl answered lucidly while the darker skinned girl was unable to respond.
The ad was pulled by Unilever who apologized for the misunderstanding; however, the contest still goes on.
Earlier, a Dunkin’ Donuts advertisement that aired this summer that featured a woman in blackface makeup to promote a new chocolate flavored doughnut drew the ire of such groups as Human Rights Watch who calls the ad “bizarre and racist.”
The ad was launched by a local franchise promoting its new “Charcoal Donut.”
In July, one of Thailand’s major universities, Chulalongkorn University had to apologize for a mural painted on a wall there which featured several superheroes like The Hulk, Batman, Superman, Captain America and Nazi leader,Adolf Hitler.