Nothing sweet about Bashews tweet

The public has less than a week to go to make submissions on a controversial draft law, which has been labelled an attempt to censor social media and other online content.

The public has less than a week to go to make submissions on a controversial draft law, which has been labelled an attempt to censor social media and other online content.

Published Feb 11, 2014

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Cape Town - A tweet in the name of soft drink company Bashews about missing front teeth had tweeps in a froth on Monday.

“Retweet this if you’re missing your front teeth #KeepingItCapeTown,” the tweet read.

Many Twitter users found the tweet to be stereotypical and degrading. Some slammed the account, while a tweeter named Kurt Mitchell said he would never buy Bashews cooldrink again.

Sports anchor and reporter Julia Stuart tweeted: “Do you reinforce other racial stereotypes for retweets too?”

 

Attempts to reach a Bashews representative drew a blank on Monday night, but hours after the outrage, an apology on Bashews’s Twitter handle was tweeted. “Apologies for offending with that last tweet. It was meant to be a joke. It will be removed. Regards,” it read, followed by another tweet: “Bashews is for everyone.”

- Cape Times

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