Chocolates are usually sought after not just because they are delectable but because they can also be healthy. As a result, they bring joy to the world, well, most of them anyway. One chocolate from Waitrose has actually achieved the opposite effect– all because it was made to depict an ugly duckling. Apparently, it was a racist move.
In line with their Easter-themed treats, British supermarket Waitrose has recently introduced a trio of chocolate ducks. The first one was a light-brown milk chocolate duck named “crispy.” The second was a yellow duck presumably with white chocolate and was called “fluffy.” While the third one was made out of dark chocolate and was called ugly… as in ugly duckling. Oh yes, they did:
According to Waitrose, the ugly duckling chocolate offended a number of customers. So the supermarket decided to scrap the idea and stop selling the chocolate duckling trio. However, the damage has been done and people have already seen what Waitrose did after a customer shared a photo of the $10 Easter treat.
The original online complaint stated, “Crispy, Fluffy and Ugly – trio of Easter ducklings at #Waitrose. Ugly is the dark one on the right. Overheard women saying “this is not right”, I agree, doesn’t look good at all. Thousands of other options… why #ugly?????” Consequently, other people agreed with her.
Waitrose should of done its homework right! The ugly duckling is NOT dark brown it’s GREY! Again advertisers / companies need to be more politically correct otherwise they will have a negative backlash! pic.twitter.com/LFrz8Vz0gr
— Anna (@BartolomeuAnna) April 9, 2019
Shame on @waitrose for questionable marketing practises and reinforcing the “ugly black duckling” narrative. INSIDIOUS casual racism that vilifies dark hues #shame #Waitrose #racism. An exposè a lack of diversity among your decision making staff. Stuck in the 60s! @hopenothate pic.twitter.com/u17S5i8MeN
— Stefania Ranieri (@KetoStef) April 9, 2019
However, some thought that there was nothing wrong with what Waitrose did. Furthermore, they even defended the case of the dark chocolate ugly duckling saying that in the books, the ugly duckling grows up to be beautiful.
I’m totally against racism but this is NOT racist esp. as in the orig story the Ugly duckling grows up to be the most beautiful of them all! The racists are not Waitrose or those using the trad labels of white, milk & dark choc, but those looking for racism where there isn’t any.
— David Meacock (@A40David) April 9, 2019
The world has gone f@&king mad!!!! How the hell is this #racist! Complete madness!!!! Waitrose pulls chocolate ducklings from sale after complaints of racism’ | via @telegraph https://t.co/VqIeuMlac8
— live the wilderness (@live_wilderness) April 8, 2019
Still, Waitrose was compelled to apologize afterward. Additionally, they also changed the labeling on the ducklings in order to be able to sell them again, hopefully without any new political incorrectness.
You might also like:
0 Comments