World Leaders Kiss in Benetton Unhate Ad

Did you ever think you’d see the day when world leaders would go kissing each other literally? Sounds sordid eh? But that’s how they look in United Colors of Benetton’s ad campaign entitled “Unhate.” The new campaign became controversial as soon as it was launched in Paris yesterday. However, United Colors of Benetton has a strong essage behind the images.

Alessandro Benetton, executive deputy chairman said, “The images are very strong, but we have to send a strong message. We are not wanting to be disrespectful of leaders ... we consider them “conception figures” making a statement of brotherhood with a kiss.”

The new campaign will benefit Benetton’s UNHATE Foundation which seeks to contribute to the creation of a new culture of tolerance and to combat hatred around the globe.
And in order to bring that message of peace and unity, Benetton has a plan of unannounced live actions wherein young people will put the ad images in places that desperately need peace process like Tel-Aviv, New York, Rome, Milan and Paris.
 

 Some of the pictures include kissing leaders US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao, French President Nicolas Sarkozy kissing German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Benjamin Netanyahu kissing Mahmoud Abbas... There are seven pairs of kissing leaders in United Colors of Benetton’s Unhate campaign.

Do you approve of this campaign or do you think it should be banned?

www.waleg.com