BIG Pharmacy has issued an apology for a promotional video featuring a local influencer that was deemed offensive. The video portrayed a scenario in a pharmacy where the influencer, playing a customer, discreetly tries to purchase condoms from another influencer who plays the cashier. However, the influencer portraying the cashier, who is of Malaysian-Chinese descent, was wearing an “Indian” outfit and portrayed offensive racial stereotypes associated with individuals of Indian descent.
The offensive acts in the video included speaking with exaggerated accents and using a marker to draw a “bindi” on the influencer’s forehead while scanning items at the counter. The video faced backlash on social media, prompting BIG Pharmacy to issue an apology statement. The company expressed remorse for the insensitive content and took full responsibility for their lack of due diligence.
In their statement, BIG Pharmacy acknowledged the hurtful and offensive nature of the video, stating that it contradicts their values of diversity and inclusivity. They assured that immediate actions have been taken internally to ensure the prevention of similar situations in the future. BIG Pharmacy emphasized their commitment to inclusion and respect, emphasizing the seriousness of their mistake.
The company pledged to learn from the incident and improve their content to adequately represent the vibrant cultures in their community. Despite the video being removed, social media users continue to circulate snippets and discussions about it.
