Sunday, June 5, 2011

Naomi Campbell Receives Apology for 'Racist' Cadbury Chocolate Ad



The Cadbury chocolate company has now issued an official apology for an advertisement that named -- and offended -- supermodel Naomi Campbell.


The controversial print ad paired Cadbury's Bliss chocolate bar with text that instantly drew fire from Campbell. The London-born fashionista, 41, threatened to sue after the ad appeared in U.K. newspapers last month.


"Move over, Naomi, there's a new diva in town," the advertisement reads. "I'm the world's most pampered bar."


Campbell was not amused.


"I am shocked," she said, according to the U.K.'s Independent. "It's upsetting to be described as chocolate, not just for me, but for all black women and black people. I do not find any humour in this. It is insulting and hurtful."


The hot-tempered style icon, who once assaulted her maid and has twice pleaded guilty to assault, said she'd consider "every option available" to fight Cadbury over the ad, while civil rights activists planned a boycott of the brand.


Campbell's mother, Valerie Morris, spoke out: "I'm deeply upset....Do these people think they can insult black people and we just take it? This is the 21st century, not the 1950's. Shame on Cadbury."


The beloved British candy maker, owned by American megabrand Kraft, has since yanked the ad; a Cadbury rep insists it will never be put back into circulation. But has the new statement of remorse ended the drama?


The company seems to believe they've avoided a lawsuit over the matter. The apology statement on their official website reads:


"Cadbury understands that our latest advertising campaign for 'Cadbury Dairy Milk Bliss' caused upset to Naomi Campbell and her family. Cadbury takes its responsibility to consumers very seriously indeed and we would never deliberately produce any marketing material we felt might cause offence to any section of society.


"It was not our intention that this campaign should offend Naomi, her family or anybody else and we are sincerely sorry that it has done so.


"We can confirm that the advertisement is no longer in circulation and we will not be using it in future marketing....We have been in discussions with Naomi's solicitors and can confirm that they have accepted our apology on her behalf as a conclusion to this issue."


No comments:

Post a Comment