Sony pulls controversial Dutch PSP ad

Billboard ad campaign in Netherlands for white version of PlayStation Portable dubbed racist by critics.

The story "Sony pulls controversial Dutch PSP ad" published July 12, 2006 at 5:14 AM is no longer available on CNET News.

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[rrajiv]

Sony's recent behaviour

*** are they trying to do?. Push the consumers till they give you the finger?

recent issues:
rootkit
this ad
ps3 repeated no-shows
ps3 arrogance("even if it has no games, people will buy")
etc etc.

[thedreaming]

error checking protocol

What happened to Sony's quick thinking, error checking protocol? Did it shut down when they were thinking, "Hmm, this ad might be racist.....Nahh!"

I'm getting the impression that Sony isn't exactly running on all thrusters, if you know what I mean.

Someone approved that?

Seriously. How could anyone approve that and not think that it would be deemed racial? Someone is living in a bubble. http://www.techknowcafe.com/content/view/265/44/

[Stan Johnson]

Sony is ran by hair brains

Too many idiots on the payrole. Time after time Sony never fails...to shock. This company really sucks.

[poisond]

Big Deal

Before I read the entire article and the contrast was mentioned I already figured that was the reason why they chose to do what they did.

People overreact way too much about nothing. I'm personally not white and I wouldn't have found it racist in any way.

I don't own any Sony products but its ridiculous how people react to such miniscule things.

[VI Joker]

Too far

It just goes to show you how far the government is willing to stretch to make the world a more PC place. I am Black and I do not see anything wrong with the ad, though I see why someone who less tolerate (being as PC as I can be) would be offended. Just goes to show you how far away people are from being color blind.

PC Police out in force, I see

There's nothing wrong with that ad. If the races in the ad were reversed, no one would have said a peep. It'd probably be considered 'cool', and a good example of 'multiculturalism'.

[tipper_gore]

good idea

Why don't you email Sony marketing and suggest your idea.

[Gasaraki]

Who cares...

Who cares what a congressman from California think about an ad in The Netherlands? The ad is not in the US. Stop telling other people what to do in their own country.

[Stan Johnson]

The ad was racially charged...period

Using race to promote your product (any product) is in very poor taste and shows idiotic marketing judgement. Most anyone with an ounce of intelligence can see this even if not offended by the ad. Sony is stupid.

Sony is a corporation that is continually making ultra poor decisions in relationship to consumers and they deserve to get slammed for it (kick their teeth in). Rootkits and much more---it never stops. The company is ran by idiots.

[cohaver]

Sojourn they our true racist group

We never herd their voice when these leaders act in racist way Oh FORGOT color or black people cant be Racist and that make them the most racist group of all.Nujoma backs KataliMERJA IILEKA at OUTAPI SWAPO President Sam Nujoma has lashed out at white community members who criticised controversial statements on land reform made by Deputy Minister of Lands and Resettlement, Isak Katali Poeple Hate come in many colors it not just white hate only in america can there be a black only Get facts look around world. Hate has many colors and it not just white

[bharatr]

Ridiculous....

Only in America can somebody be so "PC" and make a company take down an ad that had nothing to do with racism. This was in the Netherlands and should have stayed put. It is scary to think the overly aggressive, idiotic, coloured people in the US can influence what happens here in Europe.

[tipper_gore]

has anybody here actually seen the ad?

I just checked it out and wow, I'm left scratching my head. How could they be so insensitive?

[davearonson]

alternative was easy!

I haven't seen the ad, but from the description, it sounds bound to generate at least tension. There was an easy alternative they could have done, that would have pointed out the contrast in a much more acceptable fashion. They could have had the white woman just come along and start talking/working/whatever with the black one, in a sort of "Ebony And Ivory" friendly moment. No hatred, no tensions, no problem....

[battlefella]

Don't lay US guilty conscience on others

It seems a lot of comments that felt this was wrong or stupid of Sony seem to transfer the US experience with past racial intolerance and mistreatment of blacks onto other societies. Imagine a society where blacks were never slaves, blacks had a long history of equal rights, and discrimination against blacks is pretty much a 'non-issue'. Suddenly the ad is no longer so controversial.

This was an ad designed by Sony's Dutch partners for a Dutch audience, and only the US seems to find it offensive.

I see it as more of a statement of the past (and even present) sad situation of minorities in the US - the guilt is well deserved.

[razzledazzle52]

Lots of Ignorance Around Here

Did teh people who felt the ad Sony went with was "no big deal" actually see the ad? http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v623/Mechta/sony_whiteiscoming_ad_large.jpg
Who in their right mind would approve that ad for any population? To complain that only blacks in America would find this ad racist is an insult to healthy minded people everywhere. Also, many people outside The Netherlands fail to realize that the Netherlands has one of the highest populations of blacks in Europe. Amsterdam, Rotterdam, etc. have many people of African origin. As a matter of fact, Amsterdam has the biggest black ghetto in Europe. The Netherlands may have that warm and fuzzy "we're tolerant" persona, but anyone who lives there and is truthful knows that in private, there are racial divides and tensions there as well. Did the Sony marketing execs ever step foot in Amsterdam? What makes them think the Black Dutch, White Dutch, or anyone else would be okay with that ad?