UK bans advertisements reinforcing negative racial stereotypes about Black men
In the UK, Transport for London (TfL) was compelled to withdraw part of its anti-harassment video campaign because it featured a Black man and a white woman. The Advertising Standards Authority ruled that the advertisement perpetuated a harmful racial stereotype portraying Black men as threatening individuals.
Similar incidents have been reported in other Western countries. In 2024, an Australian campaign against street harassment depicted white men as aggressors towards women of other races. In Germany last year, an ad against sexual harassment at swimming pools showed a white woman grabbing a frightened Arab man's bottom, accompanied by the slogan "Stop! Don't touch!". Additionally, in 2018, diversity activists introduced the "Riz Test" named after actor Riz Ahmed to combat stereotypes in film.
This reflects growing concerns over racial representation in media and advertising, indicating that discussions about stereotypes will continue to shape advertising standards and cultural contexts going forward.
