Ashton Kutcher's Popchip ads pulled after called racist
(CBS News) Ashton Kutcher's new Popchips ad campaign, where he sports brown makeup and plays an "Indian" character named "Raj" with a thick accent, has been pulled after heavy criticism that the video and print ads were racist.
The ad has been removed from the Popchips website and YouTube channel as well as the company's Facebook page, reports the New York Times.
The $1.5 million campaign featured Kutcher as four different types of guys looking for love: a Brit named Nigel, a Karl Lagerfeld look-alike, a tattooed man named Swordfish and "Raj."
Keith Belling, founder and CEO of Popchips, posted a message on the company website in regards to the ad.
"We received a lot feedback about the dating campaign parody we launched today and appreciate everyone who took the time to share their point of view. Our team worked hard to create a light-hearted parody featuring a variety of characters that was meant to provide a few laughs. We did not intend to offend anyone. I take full responsibility and apologize to anyone we offended."
The "Two and a Half Men" star has yet to respond to the controversy. The 34-year-old Kutcher was named "president of pop culture" for Popchips in 2010.
This is not the only celebrity-endorsed ad that has been pulled: Recently, a Burger King ad that featured singer Mary J. Blige singing about chicken was pulled off the air after some criticized the ad for being stereotypical.
