Unilever Stops 'Homophobic' Margarine Ad  

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The largest manufacturer of consumer goods and toiletries, Unilever, has been forced to apologize for an advert in South Africa that implied learning your child is homosexual is as traumatic as being shot through the heart.

The advertising, Flora margarine, which is touted as rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and good for the heart, features a bullet with the words: "Uhh dad I'm gay," hurtling toward a porcelain heart with a tagline saying: "You need a strong heart today."

Unilever management apologized, confirming the ad was prepared by an external agency in South Africa and was not approved by anyone at Unilever.

Sarah Dexter, its managing director said: "I would like to unreservedly apologize for this campaign and the unintended offence it has regrettably caused. We have requested the immediate removal of this work from all media."

"The advert is offensive and unacceptable and we have put an immediate stop to it. Unilever is proud of the support that our brands have given to LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) people, including our recent campaign for Ben & Jerry's on equal marriage."

Stonewall, a UK-based gay rights group said the Flora ad "offensive and inappropriate" and welcomed its withdrawal. "Perhaps Flora should have a chat with their Unilever colleagues, Ben & Jerry's, about how best to produce gay-friendly advertising fit for the 21st century," it said.

THE GUARDIAN | FERY FIRMANSYAH