Chocolate Advert controversy

ArtyM

I read today the Naomi Campbell is furious about a recent series of Cadbury's adverts that compare her to chocolate. The Adverts basically say 'Move over Naomi, Theres a new Diva in Town' - plus a picture of a chocolate bar.
She is appauled at the racist nature of the ads and strongly considering legal action.
Race groups accross the US have called for a boycot of Kraaft (owner of cadbuys) due to the racism of the ads.
Here is a link to one of the articles
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/advertising/naomi-campbell-in-race-row-over-cadbury-chocolate-2290405.html

Exerpt:
Yesterday Campbell revealed she is considering "every option available" after Cadbury, owned by the US giant Kraft, refused to pull the ad campaign, which ran in newspapers last week: "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 humour in this. It is insulting and hurtful."
The model's mother, Valerie Morris, backed her daughter, saying: "I'm deeply upset by this racist advert. Do these people think they can insult black people and we just take it? This is the 21st century, not the 1950s. Shame on Cadbury."

---

I am white, live in a predominantly white country and as such have never had direct experience of racism so I cannot imagine what it would be like for anyone who has to face it.

I do not find the ad offensive as such, but as a white person with no experience of racism I am unlikely to. If it is genuinely racist, how did the makers not realise this given the levels of market testing that companies like Kraaft undoubtedly do?

However, and I am trying to tread lightly here, I am sure I have heard words such as chocolate/coffee used in mainstream media many times over the years in reference to an African American's skin colour, without uproar. How is this different?

Is this Ad really racist? Do you find it offensive?

Sanjuro

No. It's not racist. And anyone who finds it offensive really needs to take a good, hard look at how empty and dull their lives must be.

Mickeroo

The fact that the tagline says "The world's most pampered bar" would suggest they weren't referring to the colour of her skin but her pampered and shallow lifestyle. She needs to get over herself.

common sense brigade

Im prob very simple minded! when i saw the Ad i assumed it was comparing Naoimi to the chocolate. cos chocolate is tasty and sexy and yum. I didnt for one second think skin colour

Big Nasty

Oh come ON!

It's not Dark Chocolate!:D

danniemcq

jeez you'd think Niomi Cambell was desperate for attention or somthing. i mean its been a month or 2 since she was in the papers and news regarding war crimes/blood diamonds and late night callers to her rooms.

that poor woman :rolleyes:

My name is URL

Give her a few blood diamonds and she'll forget all about it

Bodhisopha

Generally speaking, black people find the chocolate comparison complimentary.

Dangerous Man

Nice one Naomi - you thick - give them even more publicity. Reinforce their marketing message, that you're a shallow imbecile, by behaving in a shallow, idiotic manner. Marketing chaps are cracking open bottles of champagne right now.

Son Of A Vidic

I suppose the next time Campbell assaults someone, she'll probably use a bar of chocolate.

az2wp0sye65487

Like you OP, I have no experience of being on the receiving end of racism, so can't say how it may feel for a black person to be described as 'chocolate'... However my reading of the ad is that Cadburys are calling her a Diva - not chocolate.

Also, I don't think she's African American, I think she's British. I could be wrong here?...

djdrobins

I think it was exactly what they were saying - She is a bloody DIVA - there was nothing racists about it. Its an advert for a bar of chocolate, and she is pissed that they called her a DIVA but she used the Racism card instead of the "How dare you call me a diva !" Card.

Stupid political correctness.

NothingMan

Bitches be crazy yo.

DJCR

Quick Fix

Do a white chocolate ad

Sorted.

Dudess

Great idea for a print ad - better than their trying-hard-to-be-kooky TV ads (although to be fair, every time I hear In The Air Tonight now, I think of the gorilla instead of Miami Vice).

Vivaan Thousands Blackjack wrote: »

I don't think she's African American, I think she's British. I could be wrong here?...

Yeah she's British.

Pauleta

I hope they dont pull the ad and stand up to her. Even though the ad was about her being a Diva and not the colour of her skin, if they did an ad about white chocolate and a white person described as the Diva then nobody would be offended. If she genuinely is upset about the ad and thinks it is racist then it doesnt sound like she wants equality, it sounds like she wants preferential treatment because of the colour of her skin. In fact i would go as far as calling her a racist.

stovelid

It should be whole nut they're comparing her to.

davetherave

What if it was a milky bar that was being advertised? Would that still be racist?
Come to think of it, when was the last time anyone saw a black milky bar kid??? :mad::eek:

frag420

I could understand if the chocolate tasted of Bitchiness!!

I for one will be boycotting Naomi Campbell................her loss!!

padd b1975

Dudess wrote: »

Great idea for a print ad - better than their trying-hard-to-be-kooky TV ads (although to be fair, every time I hear In The Air Tonight now, I think of the gorilla instead of Miami Vice).

Yeah she's British.

South London's finest.

christina_x

awh sweet jeebus...
I've actually come to the stage where I'm scared to say the word "black" around a black person for fear of people shouting "racist!!".
How can she deny that she skin is a similar shade of brown as the milk chocolate. I know that's not what the ad is about but still. It's not an attack, its merely fact. She really needs to get over herself. If the ad had of said "disclaimer: Don't worry, you won't end up looking like Naomi Campbell" Then fair enough, she could call racism. But otherwise she's just acting like a tit. Not because of the colour of her skin. Just because she has a ****, always-the-victim personality.

ISDW

I think she would have a point if they were making a link between the colour of her skin and chocolate. Chocolate has been used for racist abuse in the past - probably still is by some morons. But in this case, the fact that it is a chocolate bar that they are advertising in this way is just incidental. It is the DIVA behaviour etc that they are using.

I hope that they don't change the ad and give in to her, it is ridiculous but then, how else would she react? If she weren't the DIVA that they say she is, she would laugh, so they've got it spot on.

darragh16

Race is only a way of differenciating chocolate types...

St.Spodo

Simply alluding to the colour of someone's skin is not racism. She needs to learn the meaning of the word.

Paparazzo

Naomi said she is black. But the chocolate is brown. So what's the problem?

vicwatson

Surely the ad could be referring to any "Naomi" and not the model Naomi Campbell.

Build a bridge Naomi (Campbell) and get the hell over it !:mad:

jill_valentine

It's not racist, and it's clearly not racist, so very obviously, she's just after money and/ or publicity.

I do enjoy her complete lack of appreciation for the irony though. How dare you suggest I'm a diva, now stand there and listen to me shriek hysterically about some minor and entirely imaginary nonsensical grievance.

ejmaztec

davetherave wrote: »

What if it was a milky bar that was being advertised? Would that still be racist?
Come to think of it, when was the last time anyone saw a black milky bar kid??? :mad::eek:

http://thatsnicebut.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/425x212-aspx.jpeg?w=450&h=224

Radharc na Sleibhte

Ok, so if there was a milkybar ad, exact same ad, scenario etc etc.
"Move over Kate Moss there's a new Diva in town?"
Would anybody think that the bar of chocolate was referring to the colour of her skin?
No they fecking wouldn't.
She needs a toblerone up the hole.

wonderfulname

NAOMI JUDD, musician
NAOMI WATTS, actress
NAOMI FOLKARD, 2008 Olympic athlete - Great Britain - Archery
NAOMI FRAENKEL BEN-GUR, writer
NAOMI FRENKEL, writer
NAOMI KLEIN, Author
NAOMI MADGETT, published author
NAOMI NORSWORTHY, writer
NAOMI NYE, published author
NAOMI RAGEN, writer
NAOMI STRIEMER, musician
NAOMI VAN AS, 2008 Olympic athlete - Netherlands - Hockey
NAOMI WESTERMAN, actress
NAOMI WOLF, Author

thank you babynamefacts.com! Lots of "famous" Naomi's that may be divas, Campbell is too full of her own importance, and she knows full well they are referring to the fact she's a b*tch rather than her skin colour.

tan11ie

How dare they compare her to a chocolate!!!!!!!!!!:mad:





















Chocolate is soo much nicer ...

goose2005

Mr Woolley said that, for black people, being likened to chocolate was as bad as being called a golliwog. "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.

lol x 3

- Who calls black people "chocolate bar"?

- "utter disregard for causing offence" means that you don't cause offence

- His name is Mr Woolley!

Lyra Fangs

Pauleta wrote: »

I hope they dont pull the ad and stand up to her. Even though the ad was about her being a Diva and not the colour of her skin, if they did an ad about white chocolate and a white person described as the Diva then nobody would be offended. If she genuinely is upset about the ad and thinks it is racist then it doesnt sound like she wants equality, it sounds like she wants preferential treatment because of the colour of her skin. In fact i would go as far as calling her a racist.

Couldn't agree with you more.

I can only imagine what would have happened if the ad had been run about white chocolate being compared to a white person and then said white person had complained that it was racist.

Johro

I feel for the milky bar kid, and the horrible abuse he's had to put up with...
Is it coz I is white?:(
Yes. It is.

Johro

Tbh though, if they were gonna use her name, they could've cleared it with her first.

The Princess Bride

common sense brigade wrote: »

Im prob very simple minded! when i saw the Ad i assumed it was comparing Naoimi to the chocolate. cos chocolate is tasty and sexy and yum. I didnt for one second think skin colour

I agree this was probably intention of ad but it didn't work for me, has turned me off chocolate forever,(will have to find something else to do with my mouth)...goodbye caramello,I'll miss you:(

Johro

Pauleta wrote: »

I hope they dont pull the ad and stand up to her. Even though the ad was about her being a Diva and not the colour of her skin, if they did an ad about white chocolate and a white person described as the Diva then nobody would be offended. If she genuinely is upset about the ad and thinks it is racist then it doesnt sound like she wants equality, it sounds like she wants preferential treatment because of the colour of her skin. In fact i would go as far as calling her a racist.

I don't think much of Naomi Campbell, but your argument is ridiculous. You're saying that even if it were a genuine case of racism the affected person shouldn't complain because to do so makes him/her racist as he/she wants 'preferential treatment on the grounds of skin colour'?
I thought it was about equality. Colour me red.

Ghost Buster

Reminds me of a case years back when a black mother auditioned her boy for the part of the milky bar kid. When he didnt get the part , along with hundreds of others, she cried racism as the Milky Bar Kid was always portrayed by a white kid.
Is it racism to use a white boy as The Milky Bar Kid and if so is it racist to whites or blacks?;)

Johro

Ghost Buster wrote: »

Reminds me of a case years back when a black mother auditioned her boy for the part of the milky bar kid. When he didnt get the part , along with hundreds of others, she cried racism as the Milky Bar Kid was always portrayed by a white kid.
Is it racism to use a white boy as The Milky Bar Kid and if so is it racist to whites or blacks?;)

There will always be people who cry racism when it's not obviously racist. I was in a local shop the other day and a black guy complained when a white guy jumped the queue. He was convinced it was because he was black. It wasn't. I know the other guy, it was because the white guy is an obnoxious anti-social git. There were other people in the queue.
As for the milky bar kid, he could be a black boy in a white suit. No?
Somewhere a girl is saying 'Why does he have to be a boy?':rolleyes:
It's probably safer to use cartoon characters.

LighterGuy

So pretty much this just adds to what we already know

- there are as*holes in life who love to take offence over anything. And will do anything they can to change it.

Logical Fallacy

What a spa.

Pandora2

They do not specify "Campbell" as has been previously pointed out, she'll have a job proving it's her in court, although it is her!;)

I don't see anything at all wrong with the Ad and given they have already fielded the "In the Air Tonight" & "We don't have to take our clothes off" ads on TV I would say Cadbury's Ad Agency are on fire!!

I think Naomi is pissed cos Phil & Jermaine got paid!!:D Karma:cool:

Chiggers

Them Campbells be crazy. Ask the Macdonalds.

Faith+1

So if it was white chocolate and they compared it to a white model do you honestly think it would get so much attention. The racism concept would be laughed out of court.

Naomi should grow the f*ck up.

Dudess

Pandora2 wrote: »

They do not specify "Campbell" as has been previously pointed out, she'll have a job proving it's her in court, although it is her!;)

I don't see anything at all wrong with the Ad and given they have already fielded the "In the Air Tonight" & "We don't have to take our clothes off" ads on TV I would say Cadbury's Ad Agency are on fire!!

I think Naomi is pissed cos Phil & Jermaine got paid!!:D Karma:cool:

Jermaine is dead.

strokemyclover

My DIY shop ran a similar ad campaign around the time Ryan Tubridy was being linked to the BBC......I can't help but feel somewhat responsible for him going away!

"Move over Ryan, there's a new plank in town"

TheZohanS

Yet she didn't mind this.

It's all about the $$

Tarzan_man

The advertising campaign for Milky Bars is more racist than this ffs.