Volkswagen apologizes for an “unacceptable” advertisement that appeared to show a black man being mocked and literally flicked away by a pair of white hands.
Then one of the hands, with a thumb and index finger, flick the helpless black character into a street-side cafe or bar called"Petit Colon," which can be translated to mean"Little Columbus," as in sailor and colonizer Christopher Columbus.
"We posted a racist advertising video on Volkswagen's Instagram channel," the automaker said in a statement posted in German on Wednesday."We understand the public outrage at this. Because we’re horrified, too." The auto company went as far as citing its own troubling history, being founded in 1937 under Adolf Hitler, while apologizing.
"We at Volkswagen are aware of the historical origins and the guilt of our company during the Nazi Regime. That is precisely why we resolutely oppose all forms of hatred, slander/propaganda and discrimination," the statement continued. "The Volkswagen Group of today is at home all over the world. And the whole world is at home with us. Every race, every religion, every gender identity. This is our most precious asset. This is who we are. And this video is the opposite of what we are. On behalf of Volkswagen AG, we apologize to the public at large for this film."
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