Belo Medical Group apologizes for skin whitening ads’ "racist undertones"; Ads target men

ABS-CBNNews.com reports that a series of Belo Men ads are "drawing flak for supposedly ’racist’ undertones." The report noted that "Belo Men, a line of skin-whitening products for men, recently unveiled a series of advertisements, including one which has the copy ’10% lighter. 100% more sosyal,’ with the young man throwing the keys to his car to a valet."

The report also took note of the other executions are "’10% lighter. 100% approved,’ with an elderly man showing off his future son-in-law to his golf buddies; and ’10% lighter. 100% more numbers,’ with a guy surrounded by three sexy girls, holding their cellphones."

According to the report, the Belo Medical Group apologized late on Sunday, July 1 for the effect of its ad campaign. The report quoted Cristalle Henares, who said in an interview with ABS-CBNnews.com on Sunday night, "If a lot of people are getting offended about it, we apologize about that. But it wasn’t our intention."

For more on this story, log on to ABS-CBNNews.com.

Photo credits: All images of ad posters are owned by the Belo Medical Group.