So, Naomi Campbell is not exactly known for rational behavior.
But is the supermodel right to consider chocolate company Cadbury‘s newest ad campaign racist?
UK ads for Cadbury’s Dairy Milk Bliss bars feature a Bliss bar perched atop a mound of diamonds, accompanied by the slogan, “Move over Naomi, there’s a new diva in town.”
No, it’s not exactly the compelling copy of a Mad Men campaign, but that’s beside the point.
Naomi is threatening to sue the company over the ads, saying, “I’m shocked. It’s upsetting to be described as chocolate, not just for me, but for all black women. It is insulting and hurtful.”
Is it? Truth be told, I didn’t make any kind of race connection when I saw the ad, but Naomi’s urging black consumers to boycott the company’s products.
For their part, Cadbury pulled the ads but said they were just “a lighthearted take on the social pretensions of Cadbury Dairy Milk Bliss . . . We would never produce any type of marketing we felt might cause offense to any section of society.”
So is Naomi justified in her claims, or do you think she’s digging herself into a deeper diva hole with the accusations?
–Michelle Konstantinovsky is a student at UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism and an avid admirer of shiny objects and preteen entertainment. It would be nice if you visited her website: www.michellekmedia.com. Also, she may learn to use Twitter more effectively if you follow her @michelley415.