There has been a lot of debate on social media over skin colour and racism, especially after the murder of George Floyd and ‘Black Lives Matter’ protests. Furthermore, as Bollywood celebrities such as Priyanka Chopra, Disha Patani, Deepika Padukone and others stood in solidarity and showed their support to ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement, they were called out by Netizens for hypocrisy as most desi actors have, at some point, endorsed skin lightening products. Amid all of this, and raging criticism over racism and colourism, now, matrimonial website Shaadi.com removed skin colour filter, while a beauty brand would be discontinuing fairness creams and skin lightening products.
According to a report in BBC, matrimonial site Shaadi.com has removed the option which allowed its users to search for potential partners based on their skin tone. It happened after US-based Hetal Lakhani initiated an online petition against the colour filter on the website. Shaadi.com said it was a ‘product debris we missed removing’ and that the filter wasn’t serving any purpose. In her petition, Hetal had written, “The obsession with fair skin is still notorious within South Asian communities. The notion that fair skin makes a better bride/husband is still of significance. Whilst completely ignoring the personality, experience of life and the ability to make a good partner and son/daughter in law.”
Meanwhile, Reuters reported Johnson & Johnson will also be stopping the sale of Neutrogena Fine Fairness cream, which is available in Asia and the Middle East, and Clean & Clear fairness cream, which is available only in India. A company spokesperson stated, “Conversations over the past few weeks have highlighted that some product names or claims on our Neutrogena and Clean & Clear dark-spot reducer products represent fairness or white better as your own unique skin tone. This was never our intention - healthy skin is beautiful skin.”
While Johnson & Johnson will not produce or ship these products anymore, they might still appear in stores until stocks run out.
Image Source: Twitter/DishaPatani