“Software giant Microsoft Corp. is apologizing for altering a photo on its Web site to change the race of one of the people shown in the picture,” The Associated Press reports.
“A photo on the Seattle-based company’s U.S. Web site shows two men, one Asian and one black, and a white woman seated at a conference room table. But on the Web site of Microsoft’s Polish business unit, the black man’s head has been replaced with that of a white man,” AP reports. “The color of his hand remains unchanged.”
MacDailyNews Take: Vitiligo? Also, the white guy’s head is too small. He’s looks like the white Beetlejuice. Leave it to Microsoft to fail when taking on Photoshop. Again.
Full article here.
BBC News reports, “Microsoft said it had pulled the image and would be investigating who made the changes. It apologised for the gaffe.”
“The altered image, which also featured an Asian man and a white woman, was quickly circulated online,” The Beeb reports.
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Some might say, “There are very few black people in Poland, so that’s why Microsoft replaced him with the shrunken-headed white guy.” Then can someone please explain why did the Asian dude got to keep his seat at the table?
Microsoft wouldn’t stoop to this level would it…????
They’re apologizing for getting caught.
It’s not only racist, But some really bad editing. His head’s too small and the lighting is completely wrong.
Pathetic.
I can understand that there probably aren’t very many black persons in Poland, although I can’t say for certain not having been there. I can’t believe asians are that much more prevalent though.
Still, maybe they should have just grabbed a different image.
there are no black people in poland and they wanted their ad to relate more to poland’s demographic. Its understandable and they shouldnt apologize. next time they should take pics with different people so they have a choice when advertising in another country, instead of relying on photoshop
cheap all around
Lol – considering i heard most european countries are less racist than here – that’s a switch. Hey – just like the WTC ad changes – people are going to get offended no matter what you do – might as well leave ads the way they are originally. Unless your ads will unintentionally shock people, why accommodate the overly sensitive instead of the non-biased rational ones? Yes, the WTC is no longer there, and that man is black – is it that shocking?
If they weren’t tripping over themselves to be so PC in the first place by having one each of a white, black and oriental person in the advert then this probably wouldn’t have happened. It’s an advert, not Noah’s ark
OK people- relax- breathe deep. If you notice- the language is different. They might have been just trying to appeal to a different demographic. Or is that racist too? I’m not defending MS here – I’m defending our common sense. If you want to play the racist flag- take a look at Obama’s “affirmative action” initiative.
We’re looking at a 3 pager here folks- so hold on.
My black friend who lives in Ireland told me there are spanish people there too. (And nobody’s chased either one of them out yet) So, there may be different nationalities in Poland too.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” /> But try to find an American Indian in america 🙁
Yes, we don’t have blacks in Poland, so as funny as it is, I can understand it.
BTW, with the kind of money M$ has, they should have hired someone who knows photoshop.
Nothing to do with racism, it’s just customising adds based on country population.
The good news is Microsoft is really starting to cut costs (editing pictures instead of getting another shot with different models).
All together: “May Balmer… … … …”
Who cares?
We’re now a post-racial society….
You’re all missing a bigger issue! Is it just me or does the laptop in front of the black/white man look suspiciously like a de-branded MacBook? Maybe the photographer was a Mac user trying to send a gotcha to MS.
So what’s next, editing out the woman to appeal to the Afghanistan or Saudi markets?
Microsoft is an American company, and as such should reflect American values which include diversity and equal opportunity. I don’t think that would interfere with European sensibilities.
so everyone who’s been saying that maybe they were catering to the demographic of Poland and that’s why the black guy got erased, are you all saying there’s more Asians in Poland? Or that the Asian guy looks Polish enough?
Regardless of race…what horrible Photoshop!!!
Demographics, Demographics, Demographics, Demographics,
I think people are overreacting somewhat. They obviously aren’t completely racist because the Asian guy is still there (racism isn’t only against Black’s after all).
Also, I wouldn’t label MS as racist, just the schmuck that made the decision to edit the photo. Finally, the black guy is Fugly, and doesn’t look good at all. (of course the white guy they replaced him with doesn’t look that much better).
I wonder how people would have reacted (if any at all) if they replaced the black man with another black man (or woman).
In all actuality, MS could have gone to Getty images or iStockPhoto and got a perfect picture and not the POS they used.
This isn’t racism, its marketing and stupidity, but not racism.
How is this racist?
Poland is over 90% white, the ad should correspond to the market.
(White is such a blanket word, but it serves its purpose in this post.)
If I were marketing to Kenya, I would ensure the photo contains all blacks so it relates.
Well, if it ain’t a country filled with blacks, it’s one filled with Polacks!
Actually, they’ve had a terrible problem in eastern Europe with the treatment of visiting team’s black players (racist banners, taunts, bananas thrown on pitch, etc.) Mayb
I’d have to give MS a pass on this one. To be fair, the black professional in the shot really does say “American Business Man”, the Asian dude says “International Business Man”. Yes it’s a stereotype, but that’s how marketing works. You have to leverage what’s already in people’s minds.
The fact that the Photoshop job is so crappy just confirms how hopeless Microsoft is. What marketing manager would approve that hack solution? Why not source another photo? Cheesy stock images like that are a dime a dozen.
Besides, isn’t that a MacBook on the table?
Actually, they’ve had a terrible problem in eastern Europe with the treatment of visiting soccer team’s black players (racist banners, taunts, bananas thrown on pitch, etc.) Maybe one of these hooligans works at Microsoft Poland (and failed basic Photoshop 101 to boot).
The problem also exists in western Europe, too of course. At last year’s Spanish Grand Prix, black driver Lewis Hamilton was met with racist fans (wearing blackface or gorilla suits, for example). Shameful