Swatch apologises for ‘slanted eyes’ ad after uproar in China
Swiss watchmaker Swatch, the image after led to turmoil among Chinese social media users, apologized and attracted an ad with a model that attracted the corners of his eyes.
Critics said the pose looks like racist “curved eye”.
As the advertising became viral, the boycott of Swatch products grew in China’s social media.
Swatch said, “He noted the latest concerns about the depiction of a model.”
The company said on Saturday, “We sincerely apologize for any trouble or misunderstanding it may have caused.” He said.
He continued: “We take this issue in a very important way and we immediately removed all the materials related to the world.”
However, the apology could not soothe critics.
A Weibo user said Swatch “just afraid of his wife,” he said. “You may apologize, but I will not forgive.”
“They make money from us and still dare to discriminate against Chinese people. He said.
According to the Reuters news agency, approximately 27% of the Swatch revenue is from China, Hong Kong and Macau – but in China, the country’s economic slowdown decreased.
The company also produces Omega, Longines and Tissota clocks.
In recent years, Chinese consumers have organized boycotts against threats to insults or national interests perceived in their culture.
In 2021, there was a common Chinese boycott against global fashion brands such as Sincan, Nike and Adidas.
Last year, some tried to boycott the Japanese clothing store Uniqlo, some of them said that the company was not a source of cotton from Sincan.
The Italian Fashion House Dolce & Gabbana was the target of such a boycott in 2018, then released videos showing a Chinese model that uses the rods to eat Italian food. Products were withdrawn from Chinese e-commerce sites, and critics canceled the Shanghai fashion show because the advertisement said that the advertisement depicted Chinese women in a cliché and racist way.
