Thai trans group complain to IKEA about ad

[Shana A]

Thai trans group complain to IKEA about ad
Thai Transgender Alliance demand response from IKEA Global on 'negative and stereotypical' advert
22 January 2013 | By Anna Leach

http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/thai-trans-group-complain-ikea-about-ad220113

Thai Transgender Alliance have sent an open letter to IKEA to complain about a 'negative and stereotypical' advert.

The offending advert, called Luem Aeb (meaning 'forget to deceive'), was broadcast on Bangkok's sky train system from 28 December 2012 to 13 January 2013 and on YouTube.

'The MTF transgender/transwomen character is openly mocked as being "deceitful",' read the open letter to IKEA from Thai Transgender Alliance.

[...]

The advert shows a woman who is so surprised by a sale item that she speaks with a male voice. The man she is with looks shocked and horrified. The last scene of the advert shows the man running away as the woman carries a box of flat-packed furniture by herself.

[Shana A]

IKEA Thailand apologize for offensive ad featuring transgender person
Marketing manager apologizes for 'unintended offense' of 'negative and stereotypical' advert
26 January 2013 | By Anna Leach

http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/ikea-thailand-apologize-offensive-ad-featuring-transgender-person260113

IKEA Thailand has apologized to Thai Transgender Alliance for 'the unintended offense' caused by an advert featuring a transgender person.

The advert, shown on Bangkok's BTS Skytrain system and YouTube, features a transgender woman who is so shocked by a sale item she speaks in a masculine voice - causing the man she is with to run away.

'The transgender content of the advertisement is negative and stereotypical in nature,' said Thai Transgender Alliance in a letter of complaint to IKEA.

'I would like to apologize for the unintended offense may caused and we will be more careful in the future,' said IKEA Thailand marketing manager Gannrapee Chatchaidamrong.

[Kevin Peña]

Okay, that was actually kind of funny, to me. Great, now I feel bad. 

Then again, they could have used something else.