Dove accused of racism over bodywash ad
Unilever brand Dove has been accused of racism over a bodywash advert which critics say suggests that it can change a user’s skin colour.
Its promotion for Dove VisibleCare Creme Body Wash features a ‘before’ and ‘after’ skin chart while three women of varying skin tones stand in front, ordered darkest to lightest.
The caption reads: “Visibly more beautiful skin from the most unexpected of places – your shower”.
The blogosphere has been full of debate on whether the ads are mock-ups or whether the supposed racism is intentional or not, but MailOnline reports that Dove has confirmed the ad as genuine.
A spokesperson for the brand said: “The ad is intended to illustrate the benefits of using Dove VisibleCare Body Wash, by making skin visibly more beautiful in just one week.
“All three women are intended to demonstrate the ‘after’ product benefit. We do not condone any activity or imagery that intentionally insults any audience.”