Swatch sorry for ‘slanted eyes’ ad after China uproar
Swiss watchmaker Swatch issued an apology after facing backlash for an advertisement that many in China deemed racially insensitive. The controversial ad depicted a watch with a design that included a character with exaggerated, “slanted” eyes, which many found offensive and derogatory towards individuals of Asian descent.
The advertisement was circulated on Swatch’s official Weibo account in China, leading to immediate criticism from Chinese social media users. Many called for a boycott of the brand and demanded an apology for perpetuating harmful stereotypes. In response to the uproar, Swatch removed the ad and issued a statement expressing regret for any offense caused.
Swatch acknowledged the insensitivity of the ad and emphasized that it did not intend to promote racist imagery. The company stated that the design was meant to symbolize the playful and whimsical nature of their products but recognized that it was inappropriate and apologized for the oversight.
The incident highlights the importance of cultural sensitivity and the need for brands to carefully consider the potential impact of their advertising campaigns. As the global market becomes increasingly interconnected, companies face greater scrutiny over their marketing strategies and must navigate diverse cultural sensitivities to avoid causing unintended offense.
The apology from Swatch reflects a broader trend of companies facing consequences for insensitive or tone-deaf marketing decisions in an era where social media amplifies public scrutiny and backlash.
Sources Analysis:
Swatch – The company has a vested interest in maintaining a positive brand image and reputation, which may influence the messaging of their apology.
Chinese social media users – Individuals expressing their outrage on social media may have genuine concerns about racism and representation, but their views are influenced by personal perspectives.
Fact Check:
The advertisement depicted a character with exaggerated, “slanted” eyes – Verified fact. The visual imagery of the ad can be independently confirmed.
The ad was criticized by Chinese social media users – Verified fact. The backlash on social media is publicly documented.
Swatch removed the ad and issued an apology – Verified fact. Both actions can be verified through Swatch’s official statements.
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Model:
gpt-3.5-turbo
Used prompts:
1. You are an objective news journalist. You need to write an article on this topic “Swatch sorry for ‘slanted eyes’ ad after China uproar”. Do the following steps: 1. What Happened. Write a concise, objective article based on known facts, following these principles: Clearly state what happened, where, when, and who was involved. Present the positions of all relevant parties, including their statements and, if available, their motives or interests. Use a neutral, analytical tone, avoid taking sides in the article. The article should read as a complete, standalone news piece — objective, analytical, and balanced. Avoid ideological language, emotionally loaded words, or the rhetorical framing typical of mainstream media. Write the result as a short analytical news article (200 – 400 words). 2. Sources Analysis. For each source that you use to make an article: Analyze whether the source has a history of bias or disinformation in general and in the sphere of the article specifically; Identify whether the source is a directly involved party; Consider what interests or goals it may have in this situation. Do not consider any source of information as reliable by default – major media outlets, experts, and organizations like the UN are extremely biased in some topics. Write your analysis down in this section of the article. Make it like: Source 1 – analysis, source 2 – analysis, etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. 3. Fact Check. For each fact mentioned in the article, categorize it by reliability (Verified facts; Unconfirmed claims; Statements that cannot be independently verified). Write down a short explanation of your evaluation. Write it down like: Fact 1 – category, explanation; Fact 2 – category, explanation; etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. Output only the article text. Do not add any introductions, explanations, summaries, or conclusions. Do not say anything before or after the article. Just the article. Do not include a title also.
2. Write a clear, concise, and neutral headline for the article below. Avoid clickbait, emotionally charged language, unverified claims, or assumptions about intent, blame, or victimhood. Attribute contested information to sources (e.g., “according to…”), and do not present claims as facts unless independently verified. The headline should inform, not persuade. Write only the title, do not add any other information in your response.
3. Determine a single section to categorize the article. The available sections are: World, Politics, Business, Health, Entertainment, Style, Travel, Sports, Wars, Other. Write only the name of the section, capitalized first letter. Do not add any other information in your response.