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A leading human rights organization is calling Dunkin’ Donuts out on a “bizarre and racist” advertisement for chocolate doughnuts they released in Thailand. The advertisement features a smiling woman wearing bright pink lipstick and blackface makeup.

The coffee shop powerhouse launched the campaign earlier this month for its new “Charcoal Donut.” The problem is blackface is something that stems back to the 19th and early 20th century and is considered offensive by a large majority of black people. Not only that, but it remains a symbol of a racially turbulent time in our country’s history.

The ad has been released in two forms: print ads and television spots. In both posters and commercials the woman in the commercial is rockin’ a shiny black beehive while holding a black doughnut missing a bit. The slogan accompanying that ad reads:

“Break every rule of deliciousness.”

Human Rights Watch, the organization behind the complaints, said they were shocked to see the American-based company release and advertisement that would cause “howls of outrage” if it had come out in the United States.

“It’s both bizarre and racist that Dunkin’ Donuts thinks that it must color a woman’s skin black and accentuate her lips with bright pink lipstick to sell a chocolate doughnut,” said deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, Phil Robertson.”Dunkin’ Donuts should immediately withdraw this ad, publicly apologize to those it’s offended and ensure this never happens again.”

Unfortunately, the people of Thailand were hardly shocked at the ad campaign’s racial nature. In fact, many ads in the county feature similar racial stereotypes and the CEO of Dunkin’ Donuts in Thailaind ain’t worried about nothin! He dismissed the ads criticism as “paranoid American thinking.”

“It’s absolutely ridiculous,” said CEO Nadim Salhani. “We’re not allowed to use black to promote doughnuts? I don’t get it. What’s the big fuss? What if the product was white and I painted someone white, would that be racist?”

American DD fans need not worry; Salhani said that the Thai franchise of Dunkin’ Donuts operates independently of the American operation. He also claims doughnut sales have increased about 50% since the campaign was released about two weeks ago.

“Not everybody in the world is paranoid about racism,” said Salhani. “I’m sorry, but this is a marketing campaign, and it’s working very well for us.”

So we’re curious – was this ad racist or just an ad using black to sell doughnuts? Tell us in the comments below.

SOURCE: USA Today