Written by digital spy | 29 May 2011
With added comment by Fem_Antingone
Naomi Campbell has sparked a race row after threatening to sue Cadbury over an advertising campaign for their new chocolate.
The 41-year-old supermodel is said to be considering "every option available" after the food company launched "insulting and hurtful" commercials for their new 'Bliss' bar, which contain the tagline: "Move over Naomi, there's a new diva in town".
According to The Independent, Campbell argued that Cadbury had specifically selected her to promote their chocolate in order to play on the racial connotations presented.
She stated: "I am shocked. 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."
Campaign group Operation Black Vote has already given its backing to Campbell and urged for a boycott of Cadbury products.
Simon Wooley of the OBV said: "[The] only recourse black people have is not to buy its chocolate... Racism in the playground starts with black children being called 'chocolate bar'. (I actually think it starts with referring to one’s self as “black” Why? Because “black” is not a race).
"At best, this is insensitive, and at worst it demonstrates Cadbury's utter disregard for causing offence. Its lack of apology just adds insult to injury. The Eurocentric joke is not funny to black people."
In response, a spokesperson for Cadbury insisted: "[The advert is] a light-hearted take on the social pretensions of Cadbury Dairy Milk Bliss... We would never produce any type of marketing we felt might cause any offence to any section of society."
Um Nooo, at best it IS racial in connotation, Cadbury did not choose a white supermodel model with Blond hair and Blue Eyes to represent a competitor for a Chocolate bar. I mean the only people who believe that bullshit are the racists who deny that racism exists.
They added: "[The advert is] no longer in circulation... We have no plans to repeat the campaign."
Campbell recently urged the fashion industry to incorporate more black models into their campaigns.
Last month, Campbell opened a pop-up charity shop in London's Westfield shopping centre.