A dating website has been criticised for an advertisement campaign on the London underground that suggests red hair and freckles are imperfections.
Commuters shared their outrage on social media after two billboard posters by Match.com - which identified certain physical characteristics as flaws - appeared at tube stations on Monday.
Thanks https://t.co/aJZcvXM0Ss. Lovely to learn I'm covered in "imperfections" #LoveYourImperfections pic.twitter.com/dQVTPquoar
— Fleur Bone (@FleurBone) 11 April 2016
One poster shows an image of a woman with red hair and freckles and reads: “If you don’t like your imperfections, someone else will.”
Another – with the same slogan – displays a person with two different coloured eyes.
Thank you for speaking up, our intention wasn’t to offend. We have listened, and decided to remove the ads as soon as possible
— Match UK & IE (@match_UK) 12 April 2016
The dating website – one of the most popular in the world - has apologised for the adverts and said that it would remove the signs as soon as possible.
On the Match.com Twitter page, the company said: “Freckles are beautiful. We celebrate them, as we celebrate whatever makes people unique. We're sorry if we've offended anyone with our ad.”
The two new posters are part of the website’s #LoveYourImperfections campaign.
Here’s some of the Twitter reaction below:
@match_UK How can you call freckles & red hair 'imperfections'? It's hard enough for young people dealing with the teasing. Shame on you.
— Patrick McAleenan (@ontheptrain) 12 April 2016
I have imperfections but the naturally occurring pigmentation of my skin isn't one of them. #loveyourimperfections pic.twitter.com/Xf2n28bYwO
— E K Lewis (@ekelsewhere) 13 April 2016
When did freckles become imperfections? #Match.com , shame on you for forcibly trying to make something so beautiful 'ugly'. #retarded
— Rosa (@freckenstein) 13 April 2016
Dear @Match, please take down your mean-spirited adverts as they make me feel like an ugmo :( https://t.co/qLV53OMTnG
— Jo Haslam (@JoannaHaslam) 13 April 2016
