‘Skin Whitener’ Ad Sparks Criticism In Thailand

[Coss]

‘Skin Whitener’ Ad Sparks Criticism in Thailand

By KATIE ROGERSJAN. 8, 2016

 

 

An online advertisement by Thai cosmetics company Seoul Secret showing Thai actress Cris Horwang, right, is displayed on a computer screen in Bangkok, Thailand. Credit Charles Dharapak/Associated Press

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A Thai beauty company that sells skin-whitening products pulled a recent video advertisement after viewers were offended that the ad showed an actress in blackface and compared her unfavorably to a light-skinned woman.

 

The ad was for Snowz, a skin-whitening pill manufactured by the company Seoul Secret. Viewers were incensed that Cris Horwang, a Thai actress, appeared in blackface. Viewers also took offense at other parts of the video, especially the slogan “You just need to be white to win,†Reuters reported.

 

On Friday, Seoul Secret published an apology on Facebook and said that the company was pulling the video and all related advertisements.

 

“Our company did not have any intention to convey discriminatory or racist messages,†the statement read. “What we intended to convey was that self-improvement in terms of personality, appearance, skills, and professionality is crucial.â€

 

The Asia-Pacific region is the largest market in the world for skin lighteners, and the global market for such products is projected to become a business worth $23 billion by 2020, according to a 2015 report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc., a market research firm. For years, companies have aggressively marketed whiteness as the de facto beauty standard in Asian cultures. Words like “radiance†and “perfect†have been used by Olay and L’Oréal to sell to Asian markets.

 

Ads for products including supplements, drinks and creams can come with blunt and even invasive messaging: A 2012 ad promised that a product would make women’s intimate areas “bright and translucent.â€

 

But Thai companies in particular have been criticized for ridiculing woman and young girls who have dark skin. In Thai culture, dark skin is associated with farmers, a lower-status group of people who have been darkened by the sun. White skin signifies a higher class and beauty standard. The craze for a lighter complexion has caused women to resort to unregulated and illegal products that promise a brighter tone but damage their skin.

 

In recent years, Thai advertisements have been criticized for being overtly racist. In 2013, the Thai company Vernena was accused of mocking people of African descent for an ad that featured a woman who used a berry drink to change her appearance from dark- to light-skinned. The ad showed an evolution from her old self compared with the African appearance and accent of a man who appears to be her father.

 

That same year, Citra Thailand, a subsidiary of Unilever, apologized after it offered “scholarship†cash prizes to college students who used a product to lighten their skin, according to The Chiang Rai Times, a Thai newspaper. In the past, the company had published ads that showed a young girl finding acceptance after using a whitening lotion.

 

On Friday, people on social media continued to debate Seoul Secrets’ apology for its contribution to marketing misstep history.

 

“Don’t buy,†wrote one critic. “Such a lame excuse.â€

 

Others were not convinced the company had done anything wrong.

 

“I do not see a problem with your video,†another person wrote. “If people do not like skin whitening, just don’t do it.â€

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/09/world/asia/skin-whiteners-and-their-ads-spark-criticism-in-asia.html?_r=0

[Coss]

This really is Thainess, right or wrong, I know of no Thai female, or Lao female for that matter, who does not have whitening cream and worry about getting dark in the sun.

[bust]

5555...... beat me to it

[Coss]

“Our company did not have any intention to convey discriminatory or racist messages,"

 

so why did they do it?

 

Marketing dribbles, bastards all of them.

[Guest]

" This really is Thainess, right or wrong, I know of no Thai female, or Lao female for that matter, who does not have whitening cream and worry about getting dark in the sun. "

 

[Dexi]

Its brain washing pure and simple - kids watching tv see these ads every day from age 2-18 so of course they believe it .Ironic that the article was in the Chiang Rai Times as people from there probably have no need to use skin lightening products being lighter skinned and more Chinese in appearance

[bust]

They're all pink on the inside

[Flashermac]

Its brain washing pure and simple - kids watching tv see these ads every day from age 2-18 so of course they believe it .Ironic that the article was in the Chiang Rai Times as people from there probably have no need to use skin lightening products being lighter skinned and more Chinese in appearance

 

 

Plenty of Issan folks in Chiang Rai these days, in fact allover the country. A teacher from Yala said to me one day, "KHON ISSAN KHAMOY PRATHET."

 

I told that to my wife and she laughed her head off, accusing me of making it up. (But she was born in Chiang Rai and said her village is now surrounded by newcomers from Issan.)

[Coss]

MLG s convince she is ugly, her skin is the colour of Solera Whiskey, a light gold, Farangs pay money to get that colour.

[baa99]

MLG s convince she is ugly, her skin is the colour of Solera Whiskey, a light gold, Farangs pay money to get that colour.

 

... and skin cancer.