An Indonesian men’s skincare brand is facing backlash after reportedly taking a swipe at other Southeast Asian countries through a social media post that sparked outrage among Malaysian netizens.
The brand shared a photo of the Indonesian flag placed above the words “beware of the level differences”, with several other flags, including Malaysia’s, shown below it.
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Indonesian skincare brand issues apology
The brand has since issued a public apology, calling the post “unacceptable” and acknowledging that it fell short of the values it stands for.
In its statement, the brand said the post has been removed and stressed that it does not reflect its values or the respect it aims to show as a brand.
“Respect is at the heart of our values, and we recently fell short. A post published on our account was unacceptable. It did not reflect our values and the respect we stand for as a brand.”
The brand also highlighted that the bond between Malaysian and Indonesian communities has always been rooted in “brotherhood and respect.”
The brand acknowledged that rebuilding trust takes more than just an apology, adding that it is committed to earning it back through its actions.
“We are committed to upholding the same respect across all countries and cultures. We take full responsibility for falling short of that commitment. We have removed the post and are committed to doing better. We sincerely apologise for all the disappointment caused. Thank you for holding us accountable. We will do better,” the statement concluded.
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