Nivea is in hot water over an ad for its new spray deodorant. According to CNN, the company has pulled an ad that read “White Is Purity” after it triggered backlash on social media.
The original ad appeared on Nivea’s Middle East Facebook page and featured a woman with dark hair in a white robe with the slogan “White Is Purity.” The ad was promoting Nivea’s new “Invisible for Black & White” spray deodorant.
“Come on Nivea. This is so racist that I do not even know where to begin,” one person on Twitter wrote, while another added, “Astounding that these companies still don’t get it. #racism.”
The company has since apologized for the ad. “That image was inappropriate and not reflective of our values as a company. We deeply apologize for that and have removed the post,” a statement read to The Washington Post. “Diversity and inclusivity are crucial values of Nivea. We take pride in creating products that promote beauty in all forms. Discrimination of any kind is simply not acceptable to us as a company, as employees, or as individuals.”
I will never buy any #Nivea product again. #BoycottNivea
— TruthAgent? (@Godlovinliberal) April 5, 2017
Pepsi "Nobody can upset so many people with an ad as well as we can"
Nivea "Hold my beer" pic.twitter.com/iCaHCCvYx9
— Angela Night (@Angelheartnight) April 5, 2017
#pepsi > what level of troll you on?#Nivea > like 5 or 6, my dude#Sony > you're both babies, watch this pic.twitter.com/Huuo6OQ3qZ
— femifisting (@femifisting) April 5, 2017
No Nivea, you can't just tweet an empty apology. This wasn't just a "post" on Facebook. This was an ad campaign, thus produced/intentional. https://t.co/ryi7pCLMiB
— LEFT✍? (@LeftSentThis) April 5, 2017
6 years have gone by and #Nivea has yet to find a decent ad agency. #WhiteIsPurity https://t.co/DhjuBa412T
— Bleuette (@Bleuette_) April 5, 2017
Nivea: white is purity
Pepsi: victim of police brutality? Have a Pepsi!
FBI: we honor the life and work of MLK
Sony: white is coming pic.twitter.com/zN9gDvUHRW— hoenir (@cyanidezone) April 5, 2017
The Nivea ad comes as Pepsi also pulled a controversial ad featuring Kendall Jenner, which many slammed online as an inappropriate portrayal of Black Lives Matter protests.
Come on #Nivea. This is so racist that I do not even know where to begin.? Speechless. In future, refer to clothes or products, not colors. pic.twitter.com/m0KTSALFKo
— Dr. Scott Bellows (@ScottProfessor) April 4, 2017
