Nivea's New Ad Racist?

I think the most glaring mistake here was using the word "civilized". I think it'd be racist if the model was dressed in sterotypical "african bushman" attire and had a scraggly hair and a straggly beard, then I would have an issue with it.

The more we cry racism, the more hatred and racism will continue.

I've used Nivea for years and I am frequently complimented on my skin. This is no reason for me to stop using the product.

Just let it go people.

Daniel Pearls wife should be offended.The underlying message here is if your Black convert to Islam and you get to throw some heads.I suggest that even the people who think up dumb ads don't understand or know what their real motives might be. The entire human race is so obviously bat s@$t crazy it is a wonder we survive at all.

A clean shaven (dark-skinned) was throwing a (light-skinned) shaggy afro guy's head. Clearly, the ad means, throw away the shaggy look, get a clean shaven look. If anything, light-skiined people should be offended, but my guess is all dark skinned blacks are the ones whining about someone hurting their precious feelings. How do you think it makes non-black people feel when we see jet, ebony, essence magazines and knowing if there was a white or asian only mag, that it would be called racist?

What about black-only colleges?? NAACP?? What about New Orleans mayor saying he will make it a "chocolate" city?? Bottom line is, blacks are racist, but let there be a whites only city, or college, and listen to them whine.

Why is it the African American community looks for any little thing to whine about people get a life and a sense of humor they pulled the ad get over it ....

I am shocked, upset and offended by Nivea's ad after all these years of being in business specifically targeted at the 'people of colour' community not to mention the obtaining of plenty Yankee Dollars from that same community. I would like to know who came up with this particular ad, who gave the final 'go ahead' to place ad in Esquire Mag, and also why 'they' thought this ad was okay to print. What were you thinking??

Not offended.. Yet.. I'm not surprised. This is America.

viva la nivea !

omg people they made a mistake people are not perfect they make mistakes but when they do its our job to live and learn and let it go

Once a Kaffir, always a Kaffir !!!!

As an African-American woman, I am not surprised, just saddened. We have been here since the beginning of this country, often misused, cast as savages, and denigrated throughout. Even with a president of African-American ancestry, his very intellect and credits are questioned, largely due to the attitude of "he's black...he can't be THAT intelligent." Having lived through it myself, does anyone wonder why many African-Americans are getting so angry and incredibly bitter at this time in history? Constantly proving your worth to the wider world is tiring; it's time for America and the media to grow the hell up!

I do not believe that nivea was trying to be racist in the slightest. I believe that they were trying to do what half of the other male ads were trying to do. They were trying to tell a MAN to re-civilize himself by cleaning himself up. My God people take things way to personally!

Why are Black men so easily offended?

?

I'm a black woman, and I wear my hair natural and I don't think the ad was "racist", but I am offended. It was just tactless. I completely understand why it could be called racist and I understand why some people are like "OMG chill, blah blah, why are black people complaining ugh" but what YOU aren't taking time to think about is that society does not embrace natural hair the way it would a man with a thick beard, or a white guy with long hair. And in all honestly it looks kind of contradicting. How are you promoting any kind of civility in an ad with a man about to chuck a head-(is that the funny in it; am I missing something?) It just could have and should have been done differently.

It could have been a white man throwing the head of a ZZ Top looking guy... I don't get the racism part. It's clean shaved vs. scrappy looking...

Did anyone notice that the man they pictured as civilized looked like our President? I'd say he's pretty civilized. They could have done the same ad with a white guy with a naturally curly long head of hair. I didn't see anything racist about it. I'll continue to buy Nivea because it's a good product.

Nivea, as a black woman your apology is NOT ACCEPTED.

This type of rhetoric only serves one purpose, to stimulate racist thoughts in peoples minds against a group of people. We've become an anesthetized public society that can be duped into believing the stereotypical dogma of small minded people in powerful places. The Nivea ad is very offensive to humanity and simply apologizing for of lack of taste is unacceptable because the damage has already been done. WAKE UP and realize that we are all created in the image of God, and God is love. Where is the love for your neighbor? What the love being shown when, regardless of the color of a persons skin, we see garbage like this ad that depicts anyone holding a decapitated head and think that's entertainment. No wonder this society is degrading to depth of darkness, muck and mire that is it. WHAT THE WORLD NEED NOW IS LOVE SWEET LOVE NO NOT JUST FOR SOME, BUT FOR EVERYONE. Always stay in the Spirit!

This racism is killing me inside!!!

I will never use this product again. And I have been a buyer since 1990!!
One person can make a difference.