Universal Pictures 2009: Racist omission?
Couples Retreat the comedy starring Vince Vaughn and Kristin Davis which is released under Universal Pictures, has currently made an apparent advertizing boo-boo. The film which stars four couples in a tropical paradise to try to work on marital problems (three white couples, one black) is seeing some changes in the posters used for the release of the film in the UK.
The main difference between the US and UK posters is only one, the black couple has been removed. Actors Faizon Love and Kali Hawk were featured on the US promotional posters, but not in the UK. A Universal spokesman clarified that the change in marketing posters aimed “to simplify the poster to actors who are [more present] in international markets.”
Although the change makes sense in advertizing (the two actors are even unrecognizable in the US market) many think it’s because black actors are known for not being as bankable.
There is an article from the New York Times making the rounds, from February 2007, that talks about the international marketplace being “fairly racist”. The article, titled Films With Black Stars Seek to Break International Barriers, can be read [[here]].
Check out the US promo:
What do you think of the change? Racist?
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all photos by Universal Pictures 2009
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