The Seoul Secret
Seoul Secret is a beauty company based in Thailand.
'White makes you win' advert
The video features Thai actor and singer Chris Horwang whose skin was digitally altered to go completely black as she talks about how she could lose her career along with her white skin if she stopped taking care of herself. “If I stopped taking care of myself, everything that I worked for, the whiteness I invested in, would be all gone,” she said.[1]
She then goes on to speak about the negative affect not maintaining her skin-whitening routine will have on her career, turning black in contrast to her white, successful self. Towards the end the shocking tagline appears: "White makes you win".[2]
Controversy
The advert and ensuing controversy has made international headlines while reignited an ongoing debate in Thailand about long-held attitudes regarding skin color. Any trip down a cosmetic store aisle will show an abundance of skin-whitening products.
In Thailand, darker skin is often associated with rural lower-class Thais and considered unattractive. Cosmetic retailers stock a wide variety of skin-whitening products and clinics offer cosmetic procedures to help people emulate the white complexions associated with that of the Bangkok elite.[3] Not only in Thailand, skin lightening also has been a major beauty trend in Asia.
Clarification
Seoul Secrets has apologised following a social media backlash against its advert for new skin-lightening pill Snowz, which has been slammed for racism. The company has also abandoned the advertising campaign in the face of such fierce criticism globally.
“Seoul Secret, as the rightful owner of the video clip, would like to apologize for the mistake, and claim full responsibility for this incident. Our company did not have any intention to convey discriminatory or racist messages,” the statement said.[4]
References
- ↑ Seoul Secret apologizes for racist black face advert ‘White is winning’. Retrieved on December 29, 2020.
- ↑ Samadi, Faaez (2016). Thai beauty company issues "heartfelt apology" after causing outrage over racist ad for skin whitener. Retrieved on December 29, 2020.
- ↑ ‘Racist’ Ad for Seoul Secret Skin Whitening Pulled in Thailand. Retrieved on December 29, 2020.
- ↑ Seoul Secret apologizes for racist black face advert ‘White is winning’. Retrieved on December 29, 2020.