Swatch pulls 'slanted eye' ad after Chinese social media uproar

Beijing: Swiss watchmaker Swatch has apologised and removed an advert featuring a model pulling the corners of his eyes after the image prompted accus...

Beijing: Swiss watchmaker Swatch has apologised and removed an advert featuring a model pulling the corners of his eyes after the image prompted accusations of racism and calls for a boycott on Chinese social media.

Internet users slammed the "slanted eye" gesture made by the Asian male model as racist.

In a post on Instagram and Chinese social media platform Weibo on Saturday, Swatch acknowledged the "recent concerns regarding the portrayal of a model" in the advert and said it had deleted the promotional material worldwide.

"We sincerely apologise for any distress or misunderstanding this may have caused," the company wrote.

Many online were not content with the company's response and continued to call for boycotting Swatch Group brands, which include Blancpain, Longines, and Tissot.