A new ad for the Dairy Milk Bar has sparked serious outrage in the UK by comparing Naomi Campbell to a chocolate bar. The model is even considering suing Cadbury and parent company Kraft Foods over it. The ad, which you can also see attached to this article, shows a chocolate bar placed on what looks like a bed of diamonds, in an image meant to invoke a sense of ultimate luxury.
The caption reads, “Move over Naomi, there’s a new diva in town!” Clearly, there can be no mistaking as to which Naomi the ad is referring.
Campbell is so upset about being compared to a bar of chocolate that she’s seriously considering her legal options and will probably be filing legal action against Cadbury, the
Daily Mail says.
It’s racist to compare a black person to a bar of chocolate, and it’s precisely the thing that hurts the most because it’s not instantly perceived as such (as racist, that is).
“I am shocked. It’s upsetting to be described as chocolate, not just for me but for all black women and black people. I do not find any humor in this. It is insulting and hurtful,” the model says.
Her mother too insists that she should sue the makers of the chocolate for
the offense.
Meanwhile, black rights group Operation Black Vote is reaching out to public figures in the US to shame Cadbury overseas as well, while also calling for a boycott for all products made by the company.
“Racism in the playground starts with black children being called ‘chocolate bar.’ At best, this is insensitive – and at worst it demonstrates Cadbury’s utter disregard for causing offence. Its lack of apology just adds insult to injury,” the group says.
In response, Kraft Foods says it has called back the ad, which will never run again in print.
“It was certainly never our intention to cause any offence and the campaign itself is a light-hearted take on the social pretensions of Cadbury Dairy Milk Bliss,” says a statement from the company.
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