Sanex shower gel TV ad banned for racial stereotype

A TV ad for Sanex shower gel has been banned for reinforcing the offensive racial stereotype that black skin was “problematic” and that white skin was “superior”, a watchdog has said. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled the ad must not appear again after investigating two complaints that it perpetuated negative stereotypes about people with darker skin tones.

The ad, seen in June, included a voiceover that said: “To those who might scratch day and night. To those whose skin will feel dried out even by water,” alongside scenes of a black woman with red scratch marks and another covered with a cracked clay-like material. Alongside scenes of a white woman taking a shower with the product, the ad then stated: “Try to take a sh

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