“Just being white, you will win”: Thai beauty company pulls ad following accusations of racism

A Thai beauty company has withdrawn a commercial for a skin whitening pill after the ad incited a social media firestorm for being racist.

The product is called Snowz and the video features Thai actress Cris Horwang talking about how she is successful thanks to the whiteness of her skin, reports CNN.

“In my world there is tough competition. If I don’t take care of myself, everything I have built, the whiteness I have invested in, could be gone,” says a smiling Horwang.

As she speaks, her smile disappears as her skin slowly fades from white to black. An actress with white skin appears beside her. Horwang looks down at her black skin and says, “If I was white, I would win.”

Not exactly a subtle message, and social media users in Thailand and beyond were quick to voice their collective outrage at the ad’s racist message.

Skin whitening products are actually quite common in Thailand, though the BBC reports that many younger Thais are rejecting the stereotype that white skin is preferable.

The company quickly pulled the ad and issued an apology, in which they stated:

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

But Snowz critics were far from satisfied.

Wrote one Facebook commenter:

“You want to make an apology? Then come to my school on Monday morning and tell all my junior high school girls that you’re sorry that you have to make them feel ugly in order for you to sell your products. Then go do it in every other school in Thailand.”

Another expressed pure disbelief at the stupidity of the ad’s concept:

It`s absurd! So wrong in so many ways! I cannot understand how your executives could go on a meeting, talk about this kind of commercial and think “oh, ok! It’s a great idea. Lets do it.”

We’re inclined to agree.