Naomi Campbell threatened to sue The Cadbury chocolate company last week after a controversial print ad featuring Campbell’s name in a “racist” manner appeared in U.K. newspapers. Now, Cadbury has issued an official apology to Campbell, saying they never intended to offend the supermodel.
The ad, which featured Cadbury’s Bliss chocolate bar, boasted the offensive text, “Move over, Naomi, there’s a new diva in town. I’m the world’s most pampered bar,” inciting criticism from an angry Campbell.
“I am shocked,” Campbell told U.K.’s The Independent. “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 humor in this. It is insulting and hurtful.”
On Friday, June 3, Cadbury issued the following public apology via their website, claiming they’ve settled the issue with Campbell.
“Cadbury understands that our latest advertising campaign for Cadbury Dairy Milk Bliss caused upset to Naomi Campbell and her family. Cadbury takes its responsibility to consumers very seriously indeed and we would never deliberately produce any marketing material we felt might cause offense to any section of society. It was not our intention that this campaign should offend Naomi, her family or anybody else and we are sincerely sorry that it has done so.
“We can confirm that the advertisement is no longer in circulation and we will not be using it in future marketing for Cadbury Dairy Milk Bliss.
“We have been in discussions with Naomi‘s solicitors and can confirm that they have accepted our apology on her behalf as a conclusion to this issue.”
What do you think of Cadbury’s apology to Campbell? –nicholas robinson
