Brian Damage
11-15-2009, 09:01 PM
Campaign groups in Britain have taken aim at the Hollywood studio behind recent comedy movie Couples Retreat after two black actors were airbrushed from publicity posters in the U.K.
The American advert for the film, which stars Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau and Kristin Davis, shows all eight of the movie's principal actors, including Faizon Love and Kali Hawk.
But Love and Hawk were removed from the promotional campaign ahead of the movie's U.K. release last month.
Vivienne Pattison, spokeswoman for Mediawatch-UK, says, "I think this was an ill-conceived move. We celebrate diversity in Britain and we could have coped with seeing the same poster used in America."
A spokesperson for Universal Pictures apologized for any offense the posters may have caused, and insisted plans to use the airbrushed images in other countries have been abandoned.
The rep says, "(The new image was used) to simplify the poster to actors who are most recognizable in international markets."
http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2009/11/15/black_actors_airbrushed_out_of_couple_s_1?af=1
The American advert for the film, which stars Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau and Kristin Davis, shows all eight of the movie's principal actors, including Faizon Love and Kali Hawk.
But Love and Hawk were removed from the promotional campaign ahead of the movie's U.K. release last month.
Vivienne Pattison, spokeswoman for Mediawatch-UK, says, "I think this was an ill-conceived move. We celebrate diversity in Britain and we could have coped with seeing the same poster used in America."
A spokesperson for Universal Pictures apologized for any offense the posters may have caused, and insisted plans to use the airbrushed images in other countries have been abandoned.
The rep says, "(The new image was used) to simplify the poster to actors who are most recognizable in international markets."
http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2009/11/15/black_actors_airbrushed_out_of_couple_s_1?af=1