“A Sick Joke!” Italian Soccer League Forced To Apologise For Using Monkeys In Anti-Racism Campaign
Italy’s top football league, Serie A, has gone (further) into damage control after an anti-racism campaign was labelled as racist.
The nation’s top league has been plagued by racist fans that regularly taunt players of African or middle eastern origin.
Calling it a “serious problem”, the game’s officials launched a “No To Racism” campaign that, rather awkwardly, used three monkeys in the imagery.
Players of African origin are often likened to monkeys by racists in Italy’s football stadiums.
And the campaign has been widely criticised by football clubs and discriminatory groups.
Anti-discriminatory body Fare said: “Once again Italian football leaves the world speechless. It’s difficult to see what Serie A was thinking.
“In a country in which the authorities fail to deal with racism week after week, Serie A have launched a campaign that looks like a sick joke.
“These creations are an outrage; they will be counter-productive and continue the dehumanisation of people of African heritage. It is time for the progressive clubs in the league to make their voice heard,” Fare said in a statement.
In a statement to Serie A’s CEO, Luigi De Siervo, expressed his “sincere apologies for the artwork” and said he realised it was “inappropriate”.
However, the artist behind the campaign, Simone Fugazzotto, defended his work saying “we are all monkeys”.
Fugazzotto, who always uses monkeys in his work, added: “For an artist there is nothing more important than trying to change the perception of things through his own work.
“I decided to portray monkeys to talk about racism because they are the metaphor for human beings. Last year I was at the stadium to see Inter v Napoli [a match in which Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly was racially abused] and I felt humiliated, everyone was shouting ‘monkey’ at Koulibaly, a player I respect.
“I’ve always been painting monkeys for five to six years, so I thought I’d make this work to teach that we’re all apes, I made the western monkey with blue and white eyes, the Asian monkey with almond-shaped eyes and the black monkey positioned in the centre, where everything comes from. The monkey becomes the spark to teach everyone that there is no difference, there is no man or monkey, we are all alike. If anything we are all monkeys.”
Anti-discrimination body Kick It Out added: “Serie A’s use of monkeys in their anti-racism campaign is completely inappropriate, undermines any positive intent and will be counter-productive. We hope that the league reviews and replaces their campaign graphics.”
Latest News
Chief Of Cherokee Nation Calls For Jeep To Retire Vehicle Name: “It’s Time”
The Cherokee Nation has called for Jeep to rebrand its 4WD models that have used the name of the nation for more than 45 years, with Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. saying “it does not honor us by having our name plastered on the side of a car”. Speaking to US-based Car and Driver magazine, Hoskin […]
Women’s Lifestyle Media Company The Grace Tales Acquired By AllBright
The Grace Tales, an Australian media platform aimed at inspiring and entertaining mothers, has been acquired by the women’s-only network AllBright, headquartered in the UK. Georgie Abay (pictured), former deputy editor at Australian VOGUE founded The Grace Tales in 2013. The announcement comes just before International Women’s Day on March 8. AllBright was co-founded in 2018 […]
Martech Myths: Why Most Organisations Waste Ninety-Five Per Cent Of Their Software Capabilities
In this opinion piece, Ben Shapiro, founder and Managing Director of CX and MarTech company Triggerfish, reflects on how companies can better utilise software capabilities. Marketing is quickly becoming one of the most technology-dependant functions of a business, so much so it’s given rise to the highly specialised function of MarTech, now worth a reported $121.5 billion worldwide. What is MarTech? Put simply, it’s the blending of […]
Net Profit Up 60% For Southern Cross Austereo On The Back Of Leaner Operating Model
Southern Cross Austereo's profits up 60%! Which certainly made interviewing Grant Blackley today a lot less awkward.
Cummins&Partners Welcomes PR Agency Romano Beck, Bringing Creative, Media and PR Under One Roof
Cummins&Partners has welcomed Romano Beck, who may sound like a swarthy Italian actor but is actually a PR agency.
CarsGuide Partners With Mitsubishi, Wavemaker To Create Virtual Road Trips
CarsGuide, Mitsubishi and Wavemaker create virtual road trips that includes virtual car sickness.
Petition To Ban Same-Sex Kiss In Cadbury Crème Egg Ad Garners 56,000 Signatures
Cadbury Crème Eggs join Durex condoms & Frankie Goes To Hollywood on list of things Christians find hard to swallow.
Future of TV Advertising Conference: Times Are Tough, But We’re All In This Together
B&T's reporting live from today's Future Of TV event. Not before mistakenly going to the dental hygienist conference.
TV Will Not Only Build Your Brand, It Will Get Your Cash Registers Ringing
There can be no denying TV's power as an advertising medium. Putting aside Holey Moley and Plate Of Origin, that is.
TikTok Continues To Fight COVID Misinformation
Current COVID misinformation includes the vaccine can make you pregnant while developing a Lionel Richie addiction.
Wednesday TV Wrap: 10’s The Cube Debuts To 567,000, Gives MAFS A Little Hickey
B&T's delivering all of last night's TV numbers, dipped in chocolate, rolled in coconut, with a tasty jam-filled centre.
As Bruce Springsteen Is Cleared Of Drunk Driving Charge, Jeep Resumes Use Of Super Bowl Ad
With the Springsteen saga dealt with, Jeep now turns its focus to Michelle Bridges as its next brand ambassador.
WPP AUNZ’s Unveils 32.6% Profit Drop For 2020, Revenues down 14.1%
WPP AUNZ's results out today made for some pretty sobering reading. That's why B&T read them with a couple of daiquiris.
Faceook Pledges $US1 Billion To Support Journalism
Facebook pledges a billion dollars to journalism. Primarily journalism that involves cats playing the harpsichord.
Sam Armytage Hosts New Podcast For News Corp’s Stellar Magazine
Sam Armytage will be taking her Sunrise pedigree to new News Corp podcast. But don't let that put you off.
Impact Promotes Sam Morton To Partnership Director, Peter Bray To Sales Director
Impact's Sam Morton and Peter Bray pose for press photo before catching the ferry to Manly.
Delacon Adds Bridgestone Australia, Simply Energy and Smart Pay To Clients Roster
Delacon staff forced down the local Bob Jane T-Mart for new tyres after someone went and won the Bridgestone business.
Learning Your ABCs From Your AAIDs: Understanding Mobile Data
Learn your ABCs from your AAIDs with this top read. Although it does have a strobe effect for anyone with ADHD.
Comscore And Samba TV Launch CTV Partnership In Australia
Comscore has today announced the expansion of its TV measurement footprint to Australia, driven by its partnership with Samba TV, the leading global provider of omniscreen advertising data and audience analytics. The new connected TV (CTV) measurement solution, launched last year in select European markets, has now reached this key market in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) […]
UnLtd Launches MOOD Tea With All Proceeds Going To Fight Youth Suicide
B&T certainly takes our hats off to this top industry initiative. Our editor is even threatening to take his pants off.
Leo Burnett Snares CNH Industrial Australia Creative Account
Leos snares the CNH Industrial Australia creative account. Believes it to be some sort of farming/agricultural firm.
IVE Reinstates Interim Dividend Following Strong H1 Results
IVE has reinstated its interim dividend. Plans afoot to reinstate Arnott's Assorted Creams to office biscuit barrel.
How To Win With Video Advertising In 2021
Here are must-read tips on how to win with video advertising. Sadly, no tips on today's horse racing at Eagle Farm.
Think HQ Makes 18 New Hires
Absolutely no one knows anyone else's name in the Think HQ office this week after agency announces 18 new hires.
TikTok And Shopify Announce Partnership
TikTok & Shopify announce partnership. Can't decide on the vanilla cream sponge or chocolate mud for the cake cutting.
Toyota Media Pitch! Three Agencies Left As Race Goes Down To The Wire
As clarification, this article contains comments from "unnamed sources". Industry parlance for "possibly under crap".
Snapchat Research Suggests Millennials And Gen Z Embrace Value Driven Brands
Study finds Gen Ys & Zs "embrace value driven brands". Strangely they also like the music of Shawn Mendes & the cronut.
Woolworths Dominates Coles In New Years Sales
Woolworths dominates Coles in sales for first six weeks of 2021, as Status Quo's agent waits patiently by the phone.
Nine Secures Rights To Viral Britney Spears Doco
News of Britney's doco has created an excitement here at B&T not seen since the arrival of our cordless electric knife.
Women Leading Tech: Why HubSpot’s Kat Warboys Prioritises Transparency
HubSpot's Kat Warboys drops by the B&T office for a chat on all things tech and to critique our lemon drizzle cake.
