Heinz apologises after adverts deemed ‘racist’

Evening Standard

Heinz, known famously for its Ketchup, have landed themselves in hot water with adverts deemed racist.Heinz has issued two separate apologies after their adverts sparked widespread outrage.

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00:00Heinz, known famously for its ketchup, have landed themselves in hot water with adverts

00:05deemed racist, not the best way to kickstart Black History Month.

00:09Heinz has issued an apology after an advert on the tube has sparked widespread outrage.

00:14The advert, which appears at Vauxhall and Manor House stations, features a bride spilling

00:19red sauce on her white wedding dress as she happily tucks into a plate of pasta.

00:23The advert has been met with mass criticism on social media, where users accuse it of

00:28perpetuating stereotypes on absent black fathers.

00:31Author and writer Nels Abbey wrote on X for My Brothers With Daughters, because believe

00:35it or not, black girls have dads too.

00:38In response to the criticism, Heinz issued an apology, promising to listen, learn and

00:42improve.

00:43But just days after issuing their apology, Heinz seemingly carried another faux pas,

00:48drawing parallels to blackface in another ad.

00:51They seem to replicate the Joker's eerie clown makeup, highlighting oversized lips

00:55and an exaggerated smile.

00:57But viral LinkedIn post by Andre Gray, chief creative officer at Annex 88, points at the

01:03resemblance between the advert and racist minstrel characters from 19th and 20th century

01:07shows where black men were dehumanised with exaggerated clown-like features.

01:12Heinz has since issued another apology, promising once again to do better.

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