Clicks under fire over hair advert
Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi has added her voice to the outcry over an advertisement for hair products by health and beauty retailer Clicks.
The ad, which has since been removed from their website, with an apology issued, had been slated as being prejudiced and disrespectful against black natural hair.
In a tweet on Friday, Tunzi said: “Not only is this disrespectful to black lives, it is also evidence of an absence of representation and diversity within the organisation. And we are talking about a SA with a population of about 80% black people (stand to be corrected). No ways.”
The retailer has come under fire for the advert in a campaign run on its website, where they published an image of black hair, which was labelled as dry and damaged, while an example of white hair is described as fine and flat.
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The pictures have sparked widespread outrage on social media, with the company accused of being racist.
In a statement, Clicks apologised for the advert.
“We would like to issue an unequivocal apology. We have removed the images which go against everything we believe in. We do not condone racism and we are strong advocates of natural hair. We are deeply sorry and will put in place stricter measures on our website,” it said.
EFF Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said: “Not after Zozibini #ClicksMustFall. How dare they insult our hair! This is the reason young black girls in white schools are forced to shave/straighten their #BlackHair.”
Musician Zakes Bantwini tweeted: “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! these corporations do this on purpose! knowing that all they will do is apologise on Twitter and other platforms! Thinking it will just end there! They undermine us and underestimate our power.”
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