Swatch apologizes for advertising “sloping eyes” after disturbance in China

The Swiss watch apologized and pulled out an advertisement, including a model that pulls the corners of his eyes after the image caused trouble among Chinese social media users.

Critics said the pose was like a racist “inclined eye” historically used to mock Asians.

Swatch products are growing in Chinese social media as advertising became viral.

Sweatz said he “took the latest concerns about depicting a model.”

“We sincerely apologize for some suffering or misunderstanding that this may have caused,” a company statement said on Saturday.

“We treat this issue of utmost importance and we immediately eliminated all related materials around the world.”

But the apology failed to reassure critics.

Swatch is “afraid of his profits only,” a Weibo user said. “You can apologize, but I will not forgive.”

“They make money from us and still dare to discriminate against the Chinese. We will be invertebrate if we do not boycott it from China,” another Weibo user said.

Swatch receives about 27% of its revenue from China, Hong Kong and Macao – although it has observed declining sales in China against the country’s economic delay, according to the Reuters Agency.

The company also manufactures Omega, Longines and Tissot watches.

In recent years, Chinese users have organized boycotts against perceived insults for their culture or threats to national interests.

In 2021 there was a Widespread Chinese boycott Against global fashion brands such as H&M, Nike and Adidas, after expressing concern about the alleged human rights violations in Sindzian province.

Last year, some tried to boycott Japanese clothing store Uniqlo after the company said it Not a source of cotton from SyndzianS

The Italian fashion house Dolce & Gabbana was also the goal of such a boycott in 2018 after posting videos showing a Chinese model using cumbersome chops to eat Italian food. His products were Withdrawn from Chinese e -commerce sites and the brand cancel your fashion show in Shanghai As critics said, advertising depicts Chinese women in a stereotype and racist way.