Qiaobi Manufacturer Apologizes for Racist Ad, Blames Foreign Media for Spreading It

Qiaobi Manufacturer Apologizes for Racist Ad, Blames Foreign Media for Spreading It
May 30, 2016 By eChinacities.com

The manufacturer of Chinese laundry detergent brand Qiaobi has issued an apology for its racist television ad. BBC reported that the Shanghai Leshang Cosmetics Ltd Co issued a statement on Saturday after international outcry over its advertisement.

Shanghai Leshang Cosmetics Ltd Co posted a statement on its Weibo saying, “We strong reject and condemn racial discrimination.” The company added that it took full responsibility for the advertisement.

The advertisement in question shows a black man covered in paint stains stuffed into a laundry machine by a Chinese woman with a Qiaobi detergent capsule. He then emerges as a pale Asian man and embraces the woman.

Shanghai Leshang apologized in its statement released Saturday, but also accused the foreign media of reading too closely into the commercial. The commercial was first broadcast in March, but was taken off the air following the recently controversy.

The statement read, “We express our apology for the harm caused to the African people because of the spread of the ad and the over-amplification by the media. We sincerely hope the public and the media will not over-read it.”

The company said that it has stopped the advertisement and removed a number of online links. They added that they hoped Netizens would not continue to spread videos of the commercial.

By Sunday afternoon, Shanghai’s Leshang’s statement had hundreds of comments. “The foreign media is judging by their own ideas about race. In reality, most Chinese people think black people, white people, and Asian people are all the same. There is no concept of racial superiority,” said a Netizen.  

Other Netizens mentioned rumors of plagiarism surrounding the commercial. “Racial issues aside, what about the plagiarism issue? Why are all the comments deleted?”

Some Netizens agreed with the foreign media. “This was an idiotic marketing campaign that has caused us to lose face abroad. I’ll never buy this brand,” commented a Netizen.

Source: ifeng.com

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Keywords: Chinese racist ad Qiabi commercial Qiaobi

4 Comments

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dom87

we express our apology for the harm caused to African people... hehe, yes because all blacks are Africans. Waiting for the next apology?

May 31, 2016 12:19 Report Abuse

kuntmans

The foreign media did play it up. The Chinese are not racist. Statistically they are the most welcoming to refugees according to Amnesty.

May 31, 2016 11:57 Report Abuse

RandomGuy

Title reads: Qiaobi Manufacturer attempts to save face for racist ad, blames evil capitalist Foreign medias for freedom of press.

May 31, 2016 11:06 Report Abuse

Englteachted

Wait, we apologize but we did nothing wrong? It's foreigners fault? (Waiting for a student I catch cheating to blame me for looking. Chinese, who think of themselves a special to the point where they just call everyone else foreigners even in their own country.

May 31, 2016 06:45 Report Abuse