The makers of the recent Vince Vaughn hit comedy, Couples Retreat, are at the centre of a race controversy after two black actors were airbrushed from publicity posters in the UK.
The American advert for the film, which stars Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau and Kristin Davis, shows all eight of the movie's principal actors, including Faizon Love and Kali Hawk (see poster above on the left). But both Love and Hawk were removed from the promotional campaign (poster on the right) ahead of the film's British release last month.
Couples Retreat, which has currently taken over $70 million at the worldwide box office, tells the story of four couples who go on holiday together and receive therapy to improve their relationships.
A spokesman for the film's makers, Universal Pictures, confirmed the poster had been changed to 'to simplify the poster to actors who are most recognisable in international markets'. The studio said it regretted causing offence and has now abandoned plans to use the revised poster in other countries.
Reader Comments (177)
SK at 1:06PM on Nov 16th 2009
i think this is very bad as black people should have the right to be included as even the smallest thing as being on a poster for a movie. I think that racism is wrong especially in the movie industry as movies are the things we learnt about racism from and some films also teach us about not being racist. I think that the original poster should be put back up and alll the star members should be included.
beki_j at 3:50PM on Nov 16th 2009
has noone else realised that in the film they'r not the main couple anyway!?
whereas the other 3 couples are!
its not because of the colour of their skin... once again something so small has been blown out of proportion because of this countries extreme political correctness!
PAUL at 3:20PM on Nov 16th 2009
Please view DWP benifit fraud http://campaigns.dwp.gov.uk/campaigns/benefit-thieves/There is no black or asian people ,shame it looks like only white people commit benefit fraud this is also racism
valde at 8:48PM on Nov 16th 2009
In my view this is simply a advertising choice.If they had taken two white people from the poster what excuse would the people have then,why does race always have to be a part one way or the other,race is often an agenda for people to blame or reflect victimisation ,but I agree that racism or any discrimenation is unacceptable.
Gerry Brown at 12:02PM on Nov 17th 2009
Ha ha not surprised at that. The proof of the pudding is in andrew/tina/beki_i and all the other negative comment's. I'd take the whole of my comment to name the people who seem to be racists, they'll say their not racists, but what other word is there for it?
There is very few of the people who think the coloured people should be out in front. People like that shouldn't be allowed the ground to walk on, after statement's like that. It's not because of colour? Ach right andy, heard it all before. Why did they not take out 2 of the white people and put in the 2 coloured instead eh???
It's slabberheads, like you people, who loves the coloured people, to fight their wars, win your country's, team whatever sport, but not good enough to be in a poster. The people who put the poster up is as bad as the racist people who made a lot of these comments.
John at 1:19PM on Nov 17th 2009
I think black people generally get rather more 'advertising space' because of a pro-active insistence of appeasing the sensibilities of all nationalities/ethnic types....above and beyond their actual ethnographic numbers!
ed at 1:44PM on Nov 16th 2009
What? And this kind of thing surprises people! Wake up, all. Most folk near everywhere you go are decent and fair-minded, judging people as they find them. But there are some, usually insecure, inexperienced and untravelled, who are simply racist. They are in all professions. And don't ever think that they are easily recognised; they are not: film publicists, for example.
Happily,'Most folk' will eventually win over this foolishness.
mal at 2:55AM on Nov 17th 2009
Well, said Ed. And might I point out, that rascists come not just in shades in white (or pasty white as David describes it) but all hues. I have been a victim of abusiive rascist comments more than once in my life, and not once from a white English person. I'm Irish.
Iain at 1:50PM on Nov 16th 2009
Who cares!!
Sarah at 3:37PM on Nov 16th 2009
It's funny that you have an issue about black people being looked on negatively, and then go and make a prejudice comment about white people. It looks to me that the thinking of the picture was to erase the furthest away people and bring forth the others. It may not have been a conscious decision. It is a right in the world that posters and media can have one race displayed. It's the insecurities of other races that can make it a big issue. There are a lot of publications / programmes that focus on other cultures besides the whites. You don't see them making a huge fuss.
steph at 2:23PM on Nov 17th 2009
this is so wronge they should totally be on the poster! Im not black but i dont see how its faire to not include them, especially as they are part of the cast.
also the first poster is better anyway....in the second poster she has a suitcase in the water...:S they really thought the second poster through:P
gail at 2:27PM on Nov 16th 2009
To be honest, I thought the film looked funny, then I saw the poster,were was the black guy that made me laugh?he was not on the poster!!so I totally dismissed it.wont be watching it.
andrew wood at 1:58PM on Nov 16th 2009
I disagree. I think the poster on the right looks better and it's not because of the colour of the actors. It just looks better cos it's simpler. Eight characters on the front of any poster is a lot. On the left poster the black actors are right in the back anyway so they are clearly the minor characters compared to the other couples. I think Hollywood is racist because they would never have the black couple as the main stars with three white couples behind them and why do they have to be coupled with partners of their own race anyway?
sara at 2:15PM on Nov 16th 2009
EXACTLY - notice in a lot of these American films there aren't any couples of differing race - the black guy always has a black wife - thus sending out a "stick to your own kind" message - how is THAT supposed to work when promoting equality?!?
Kerry at 5:48PM on Nov 16th 2009
I think America in general is still a bit behind the UK with regards to attitudes towards mixed race couples.
john at 11:22AM on Nov 17th 2009
has no one noticed that they are 2 different photos just look at the background. also all the people are in different positions.
Ike at 1:59PM on Nov 16th 2009
This has been going on for ages ... look at all the adverts etc. Non-white folk are very often presented as an 'after-thought' or in a very patronising light.
Comparing the UK with USA, the UK has failed woefully .... for such a 'multi-cultural society'.
PR companies etc. will always put a 'spin' on their shortcomings - but what do you expect, when money rules - rather than morals, merits and values?
marls at 5:10PM on Nov 16th 2009
Thats is so true about UK,there is no fair level playing field for african/carribean in flims,as for advertisment,its tokenisam all the way!!! that racisim (institutional)at that too!! i say the poster was delibaratly done that way for the UK.
John Cee at 2:14PM on Nov 16th 2009
The people who produced this poster, did it this way on purpose, to produce the very reaction that is happening. it's not intended to imply that white people are better or black people are better off not seen, it's just advertising. They proberly even complained about it first to get the ball rolling. I would bet money that they even sent a copy to the sun newspaper.
Dave at 2:08PM on Nov 16th 2009
I fail to see any racism in this poster. Yes there is a level of discrimination but no more than you would get at …say the MOBO awards. E.g. Madness are one of the worlds top ska bands and Ska is clearly MOBO yet you don’t see Madness up for a MOBO award do you? Nor do you see/hear anyone getting upset over it either. Clearly discrimination but not racism.