LOS ANGELES (AP) — An online ad featuring Ashton Kutcher as an Indian man has been pulled offline after viewers called it racist.
The images and video for Popchips feature the 34-year-old “Two and a Half Men” star in brown makeup portraying a Bollywood producer named Raj who is “looking for love.” They were removed from YouTube and Facebook after being criticized online.
Das Racist calls out Ashton Kutcher for ‘brownface’
Other videos featuring Kutcher as a stoner, tattooed Southerner and pasty fashionista remain online.
WATCH ‘TODAY SHOW’ COVERAGE OF THE CONTROVERSIAL KUTCHER AD HERE:
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A spokeswoman for Popchips says the dating parody featuring the four characters was “created to provoke a few laughs and was never intended to stereotype or offend anyone.” She added that the company hopes “people can enjoy this in the spirit it was intended.”
A spokeswoman for Kutcher hasn’t return messages seeking comment.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
