Dunkin' Donuts Thailand under fire for 'racist' ad campaign

[webfact]

Dunkin' Donuts Thailand under fire for 'racist' ad campaign
By Ricardo Lopez

LOS ANGELES: -- A human rights group on Friday criticized a Dunkin' Donuts advertising campaign running in Thailand that features a model whose face is painted black to sell a chocolate doughnut.

Dunkin' Donuts Thailand recently started running ads for its "Charcoal Donut," which features a model wearing blackface makeup and bright pink lipstick and holding up a bitten doughnut. The translated Thai slogan reads: "Break every rule of deliciousness."

Phil Robertson, deputy director of the Asia division of Human Rights Watch, said it's "rather incredible that an international company like Dunkin' Donuts" would run such an ad.

In a phone interview with The Times, he said the ad "fits into a long history of racist advertisements in Southeast Asia."

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The Associated Press said it's common in Thailand for marketing to feature racist undertones. A Thai skin whitening cream, for instance, is advertised in television commercials as boosting job prospects for those who use it. According to the AP, the commercials say white-skinned people have a better chance of landing a job than those with dark skin.

Full story: http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-dunkin-donuts-thailand-racist-ad-criticism-20130830,0,1353917.story

-- Los Angeles Times 2013-08-31

[Somtamnication]

Must have been a Thai woman again, complaining about skin color.

[dcutman]

Dunkin' Donuts apologises for 'bizarre and racist' Thai advert

Poster to promote new 'charcoal donut' featured Thailand chief executive's daughter in 'blackface"

Why is this so offensive.

other than its not really that great of an advert, IMO.

Edited August 31, 2013 by dcutman

[bigbamboo]

Dunkin' Donuts apologises for 'bizarre and racist' Thai advert

Poster to promote new 'charcoal donut' featured Thailand chief executive's daughter in 'blackface"

Doesnt offend me much

and its not really that great of an advert, IMO

Me either. If they wanted realism they would have used a fat model.

[Stradavarius37]

Dunkin' Donuts apologises for 'bizarre and racist' Thai advert

Poster to promote new 'charcoal donut' featured Thailand chief executive's daughter in 'blackface"

Doesnt offend me much

and its not really that great of an advert, IMO

Me either. If they wanted realism they would have used a fat model.

ROFLMAO

[Pimay1]

According to the AP, the commercials say white-skinned people have a better chance of landing a job than those with dark skin.

Evidently not so with DD.

[virtualtraveller]

Looks more beautiful black. I think they're overreacting frankly, have to agree with the Thailand CEO. But also have to agree it "fits into a long history of racist advertisements in Southeast Asia."

[jaltsc]

Perhaps they will now refer to this product as the "Darlie" Doughnut

[bangarang]

Doesnt the world know that asians are racist? I dont recall ever seeing light skinned actors on TV in Thailand, Philippines, and Malaysia.... One time I saw an old Thai drama on TV where the main "poor low class girl" used black face make up.

When they stop putting whitening agents in lotions and creams will be the day they stop being racist. I just live with it and pretend im in early 1900s america.

[bangarang]

Dunkin' Donuts apologises for 'bizarre and racist' Thai advert

Poster to promote new 'charcoal donut' featured Thailand chief executive's daughter in 'blackface"

Why is this so offensive.

other than its not really that great of an advert, IMO.

Well they did their job, a bunch of controversy without being too offensive is a PR dream. I dont see why people get so up in arms about this blackface thing though. Obviously this wasnt meant to be offensive and more towards an artistic advertising approach with emphasis on subtle color and attention to the Eyes, Donut, & Mouth. Its not the best ad out there, but works well. Not to mention the publicity from the controversy.

[Gonzo the Face]

What a bunch of krap.....

Dunkin Donuts Thailand, is independent of the parent company. The Company sez they have shown a huge increase in sales after the ad with folks curious about the product. Run the ad and if it works, increase it.

Gets back to the statement that all races, all nationalities have their a'holes.....

All muslims are painted with the extreme radical brush due to the small number or extremeists. IMO that is definitely wrong.

Now and continueing, due to the extreme opinions of a few, in another country, the blacks are being put on the front line. I am American, I live in Thailand, and I, along with most of the Thais , according to reports, see nothing wrong with the program.... I don't have a problem with them showing how to make skin whiter and whiter and whiter.

To the Rev Sharpton and his ilk who complain about anyone using the word black, I say its about time that your group gets off your cross.... Get a life already...... and most inportantly keep your opinion in your own neighborhood, don't try and poison the world with your personal blight...

Have your opinion, have your belief, but don't force it down the throat of the rest of us....

Now I will find a Dunkin Donut today and try out the Chocholate Donuts. Due to good advertising, looks delicious to me.

[Bluespunk]

<p>

Dunkin' Donuts apologises for 'bizarre and racist' Thai advert

Poster to promote new 'charcoal donut' featured Thailand chief executive's daughter in 'blackface"

Why is this so offensive.

other than its not really that great of an advert, IMO.

Might be the campaign slogan I suppose, racist implication being that something black usually cannot be delicious/desirable. Could be wrong though.

Edited August 31, 2013 by Bluespunk

[NomadJoe]

This advert can only be seen is racist to racist people. Phil Robertson, you sir, are an idiot.

[eTiMaGo]

Dunkin Donuts Thailand apologizes, and meanwhile reveals plans for a new advertising campaign featuring super-popular icon of western culture Adolf Hitler, for the new Heil Donut product

[dudu]

Black people are black, white people are white, stupid people are stupid,when will humans evolve to the stage of not living in fear? Point i am making is that if it was a black girl painted white,no bastard would batter an eyelid!!

Edited August 31, 2013 by dudu

[SADWING]

Racism in Thailand and in America are two completely different things.

[Pimay1]

It appears HRW is swiftly joining the ranks of the other nut case people such as PETA the global warming bunch.

[StrandedBusinessPerson]

Human Rights Watch Asia (should be) under fire for 'racist' report title:

The Dark Side of Green Growth

Where is the outrage?

[cloghead]

This advert can only be seen is racist to racist people. Phil Robertson, you sir, are an idiot.

Huh? You talkin' to me, boy? http://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-businessmen/phil-robertson-net-worth/

[selftaopath]

When will DD come to ISAAN e.g. Khonkaen? And yea chocolate dognuts are not new.

[Yunla]

Human rights agencies worldwide have been infiltrated by intelligence agents, who currently are using 'racism' as a thought-police mindcontrol tool to make people scared to say or do anything even as innocent as dressing up like a chocolate snack. Its all about gradual depowerment of the individual on a subconscious level, so that you become fearful to open your mouth or do anything even if it is completely innocent, you know there will be some sweaty psy-ops guy in a sleazy office somewhere watching your every move. And it is not about giving you problems today, it is a process like coastal erosion, it takes decades but little by little you feel more reluctant to do normal activities incase they are leapt on by the dominators and their agents.

[Kerryd]

For starters, pretty much EVERY culture/race is racist to some degree, INCLUDING those that like to scream RACIST the most at every opportunity.

And as MOST of you should already know, "white skin" in SEA is NOT so much of a racist matter as it is a SOCIAL CLASS matter. The "whiter" your skin, the higher up on the "social status" scale you may be. This dates back to ancient history long before "white men" ever came to Asia.

And as MOST of you should already know as well, in Thailand when 2 people meet for the first time, the "whiteness" of the skin (as well as attire, make-up, jewelry, etc) help determine who is "higher" on that social scale and who should be wai-ing first and lowest. That is the reason so many Thais (primarily women it seems) are so keen on having "white" skin, so that they can appear to be of a higher social status than they really are.

Dunkin Donuts biggest mistake perhaps was not marketing a white chocolate donut with a model done up in "white" face. Want to bet that if they did that you would not hear ONE SINGLE CLAIM of racism from ANYONE ?

[Minhoang]

Stop this "racist" nonsense!!! In the end we can't even say anything anymore because whatever we say we'll offend someone.

[Mampara]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the advertisement. It does what its supposed to do, and that is to attract attention, which it does well, according to the response in the media.

Edited August 31, 2013 by metisdead
Bold font removed.

[Mampara]

For starters, pretty much EVERY culture/race is racist to some degree, INCLUDING those that like to scream RACIST the most at every opportunity.

And as MOST of you should already know, "white skin" in SEA is NOT so much of a racist matter as it is a SOCIAL CLASS matter. The "whiter" your skin, the higher up on the "social status" scale you may be. This dates back to ancient history long before "white men" ever came to Asia.

And as MOST of you should already know as well, in Thailand when 2 people meet for the first time, the "whiteness" of the skin (as well as attire, make-up, jewelry, etc) help determine who is "higher" on that social scale and who should be wai-ing first and lowest. That is the reason so many Thais (primarily women it seems) are so keen on having "white" skin, so that they can appear to be of a higher social status than they really are.

Dunkin Donuts biggest mistake perhaps was not marketing a white chocolate donut with a model done up in "white" face. Want to bet that if they did that you would not hear ONE SINGLE CLAIM of racism from ANYONE ?

What a load of "Hogwash"

[AdamRich]

I'm Black. Not offended. Not really black face. The entire photo is black, but accents the lips to portray how delicious the donut is. I guess there is a thin line between art and racism.

[Sayonarax]

For starters, pretty much EVERY culture/race is racist to some degree, INCLUDING those that like to scream RACIST the most at every opportunity.

And as MOST of you should already know, "white skin" in SEA is NOT so much of a racist matter as it is a SOCIAL CLASS matter. The "whiter" your skin, the higher up on the "social status" scale you may be. This dates back to ancient history long before "white men" ever came to Asia.

And as MOST of you should already know as well, in Thailand when 2 people meet for the first time, the "whiteness" of the skin (as well as attire, make-up, jewelry, etc) help determine who is "higher" on that social scale and who should be wai-ing first and lowest. That is the reason so many Thais (primarily women it seems) are so keen on having "white" skin, so that they can appear to be of a higher social status than they really are.

Dunkin Donuts biggest mistake perhaps was not marketing a white chocolate donut with a model done up in "white" face. Want to bet that if they did that you would not hear ONE SINGLE CLAIM of racism from ANYONE ?

What a load of "Hogwash"

LOL with a reply like that i wouldn't expect anything brilliant to come next.

[culicine]

That's quite tame compared to this little gem:)

...because it's dark does not mean its bad....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGdTKz9wOKA

[Regyai]

Just more pandering to the lunatic demands of the PC brigade

Should have told them to &lt;deleted&gt; oof and then run ads n doughnuts in every other colour (which of course would garner no angst from these myopic leftist brainwashed imbeciles)

.

[Mampara]

According to the AP, the commercials say white-skinned people have a better chance of landing a job than those with dark skin.

Evidently not so with DD.

The problem is that the skin is so white that its almost transparent and one can see the blue veins all over the exposed body parts. "What a disgusting sight".