Anais Gutierrez
Cereal giant Kellogg’s is set to redesign theartwork of their Corn Pops packaging after being accused of promoting racism. Writer Saladin Ahmed called out the company a racist insensitive artwork via Twitter.
In recent months, companies have ingressively received feedback on their marketing campaigns, especially when it comes to sensitive issues such as racism, homophobia or bullying.
A Cereal Artwork Gone Wrong
Marvel Comics writer Saladin Ahmed took Twitter to call out Kellogg’s on the artwork of Corn Pops’ boxes for what he considered as promoting racism in children.
The cereal box’s artwork shows the corn pop cartoon characters inhabiting a shopping mall and engaging in various activities. Some corn pops are shopping, while others are playing arcade games or jump rope, simply having fun.However, amid the fun fuzz, there’s one brown-colored corn pop dressed as a janitor pushing a floor waxer. Delivering a completely opposite Where’s Waldo situation.
Ahed pointed out that while it might seem a tiny thing it is an issue when “you see your kid staring at this over breakfast and realize millions of other kids are doing the same.” Withing hours Kellogg’s replied to Ahmed’s tweets and apologize for it as it announced it would redesign the artwork of the popular cereals.
hey @KelloggsUS why is literally the only brown corn pop on the whole cereal box the janitor? this is teaching kids racism. pic.twitter.com/Nh7M7IFawW
— Saladin Ahmed (@saladinahmed) October 24, 2017
Kellogg is committed to diversity & inclusion. We did not intend to offend – we apologize. The artwork is updated & will be in stores soon.
— Kellogg's (@KelloggsUS) October 24, 2017
Talk about the power of social media
Social media has proven to be a powerful tool when it comes to addressing sensitive issues and giving power to them. The backlash surrounding issues such as airlines mistreating passengers, cereal boxes cartoons and blackfacing has prompted a sense of immediacy among companies giving users a voice.
“I think that you are seeing companies recognize the power of social media,” said Isra Ali a clinical assistant professor in media, culture, and communication at New York University. “Companies that are responsive position themselves better for consumers, and it is important to be socially engaged and sensitive to issues concerning marginalized groups.”
Prior to the incident with Kellogg’s, other companies have received backlash over failed marketing attempts, such as the infamous Kendall Jenner Pepsi commercial.More recently, Dove received pushback on social media for what some people considered a “racist” advertisement and released an apology on Twitter.
The infamous commercial featured a black girl removing a T-shirt, and underneath was a white girl who then removed her T-shirt to reveal an Asian girl.
The video showing only the black and white women went viral on social media and sparked a boycott with the hashtag #boycottdove.
Source: AV Club
