Dove is one of those companies that touts its inclusion of all types of women — women with curves, women who are over 40, and women of all colors appear in their ads.
That's why it was infuriating beyond belief when they posted an ad campaign that shows a black woman removing a dark t-shirt to reveal a white woman in a lighter t-shirt underneath. Another image shows the white woman taking off her shirt to reveal an Asian woman.
There's no real way to read it other than that your skin gets lighter as you use Dove soap, and the backlash was immediate. Unfortunately, and surprisingly, this isn't the first time Dove has been called out for racist ads.
Makeup artist Naythemua was the first to post a screenshot of the ad to Facebook.
"So I'm scrolling through Facebook and this is the #dove ad that comes up.... ok so what am I looking at...." she wrote. Her post went viral; it has been shared over 10,000 times. People were immediately livid. There is simply no good way to spin this.Twitter had many reactions.
Most were incredulous and disgusted that a company like Dove could be so tone-deaf about race, especially in today's fraught social climate. Some pointed out that soap advertisements have a long, racist history, and this seemed to fit right in. Basically, Dove should have known better.When Naythemua commented on the ad on Facebook, Dove initially responded with this explanation:
They tried to explain away the racism that was so clearly evident. It doesn't matter what the intentions of the commercial were. Any company, and especially one that's supposedly as sensitive to these topics as Dove is, should know better.Following the insane backlash they received, Dove released this apology:
An image we recently posted on Facebook missed the mark in representing women of color thoughtfully. We deeply regret the offense it caused.— Dove (@Dove)1507400866.0
Some aren't as convinced by Dove's "good work," however.
Listen.. do not listen to @dove’s apology for their racist ad. They don’t care and this isn’t the first time. https://t.co/Due6UyfWYG— Richie Brave (@Richie Brave)1507472323.0
Complexion Magazine joined the conversation to remind us of this problematic Dove ad from a few years ago:
Stop supporting companies that view your skin anything different from “normal” @Dove is racist. It’s not a slip up… https://t.co/yU4Pz1btKy— Complexion Magazine (@Complexion Magazine)1507472430.0
In another instance, Dove marketed this product as "nourishing lotion for normal to dark skin."
Definitely missed the mark there @Dove FYI Dark skin IS NORMAL https://t.co/lUD9OJR46f— Stacey-Ann Baptiste (@Stacey-Ann Baptiste)1507469559.0