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South Africa’s Clicks Group has said it will remove all TRESemme products from its shelves after an ad posted on the retailer’s website was accused of being racist.
The ad, commissioned by the TRESemme hair company and posted on the Clicks pharmacies website, compared two photos of black women’s hair with two photos of white women’s hair, labeling black women’s hair as “dry and damaged. “and” frizzy and dull. ” while the hair of the labeled white women was “fine and flat” and “normal”.
The pharmacy retailer withdrew the ad and apologized, as did TRESemme South Africa.
Clicks said that all employees responsible for running the ad had been suspended and that it had accepted the resignation of a senior executive.
The announcement caused outrage on social media and sparked protests led by the far-left opposition party Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), which demanded the closure of stores across the country for at least a week.
The announcement also drew criticism from the government with Small Business Development Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, rejecting Clicks’ apology saying it was “nonsensical” and calling for TRESemme products to be removed from their shelves.
Unilever SA, TRESemme’s parent company, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Removing the products from Clicks’ shelves did not stop South Africans from taking to social media to show their anger.
It’s not about hair … or fabrics … or skin lighteners … it’s about RACISM … each ad is a mini action of aggression against what I am as a black girl and leaves a cut and each sorry leaving a scar … we are full of scars … #stopbeingtone-deaf#FOR RACISM
– Yolanda Cuba (@Yolandacuba) September 8, 2020
AFRICA MALL CLICKS
Clicks can no longer avoid liability.
We demand Justice. #Kubo!!!#clicsmustfall https://t.co/I48RfUS4zh pic.twitter.com/BlxyO7sbtr
– TYRONE MKANSI (@Tyrone_Mkansi) September 8, 2020
On Tuesday, some Clicks stores in South Africa remained closed after protesters damaged seven stores the day before.
“We recognize that this event has had a significant impact on our people and our customers and we have made the decision to close our stores for one day on Wednesday September 9,” Clicks CEO Vikesh Ramsunder said in a statement.
Courts on Tuesday prevented the EFF from preventing Clicks stores from opening and intimidating employees and customers, local news broadcaster eNCA reported.
EFF denied the report, claiming that they will continue their protests until Friday.
It should be clear to Clicks that the court has not declared the protest illegal and consequently the legal and peaceful protests continue until Friday. #clicsmustfall
– Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) September 8, 2020
It’s unclear what effect the store closures would have on the company, which has already warned that trading would be difficult for the rest of its financial year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Manufacturers of consumer packaged goods have reconsidered their marketing in the wake of global protests against racial injustice. Several brands have eliminated black advertising mascots.
SOURCE:
Reuters news agency
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