Coca-Cola drops controversial Christmas video set in indigenous Mexico
Coca-Cola drops controversial Christmas video set in indigenous Mexico
Company spokesman said it had not meant to insult anyone with ad showing Coke being handed out by light-skinned actors in community of Mixe people
Staff and agencies
Wednesday 2 December 2015 19.55 EST
A Coca-Cola Mexico spokesman apologised and said the company had pulled an online ad after it was deemed offensive to the country’s indigenous people by consumers, media and advocacy groups.
Coke director of publicity Diego Bracamontes said the ad was taken down late on Tuesday after about a week online in Mexico and that the company had never meant to offend anyone.
The “Open Your Heart” holiday campaign came under fire with its portrayal of light-skinned white people driving into the remote hills of Oaxaca to hand out Coke to indigenous Mixe people and put up a Coke-themed Christmas tree.
Campaigners from the country’s Alliance for Food Health said it was insulting to indigenous people who are some of the most affected by Mexico’s epidemic rate of obesity, which is fuelled partly by high consumption of sugary soda drinks.
More:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/03/coca-cola-drops-controversial-christmas-video-set-in-indigenous-mexico
LBN:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141277617
