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| (image via Reuters) |
Italian clothing firm Benetton has a caused huge controversy with their recent ad campaign. The ads feature political and religious figures kissing for their campaign UNHATE. The photoshopped images include President Barack Obama kissing Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and the Pope kissing Egyptian Imam Ahmad el Tayyeb.
The company defended the controversial ads by saying they were “symbolic images of reconciliation—with a touch of ironic hope and constructive provocation—to stimulate reflection on how politics, faith and ideas, when they are divergent and mutually opposed, must still lead to dialogue and mediation.”
However, not everyone saw it that way.
Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said the photos were a “grave lack of respect for the Pope.” Oliviero Toscani, the photographer who created Benetton’s signature style, also disagreed with the ads by saying the photos were “pathetic and the product of a beginner's art class.”
Benetton recently pulled the photo of the Pope due to the controversy.
The company defended the controversial ads by saying they were “symbolic images of reconciliation—with a touch of ironic hope and constructive provocation—to stimulate reflection on how politics, faith and ideas, when they are divergent and mutually opposed, must still lead to dialogue and mediation.”
However, not everyone saw it that way.
Benetton recently pulled the photo of the Pope due to the controversy.
What do you think about the Benetton’s ads? Do you think they should have pulled the photo?
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