Dettol withdraws controversial advertising campaign in China

The British hygiene brand Dettol has withdrawn a five-minute advertising micro-drama in China following intense public backlash on social media. The advertisement depicted a man seeking a partner who was 'clean' and 'uncontaminated' by other men, ultimately comparing 'toxic' men to bacteria and presenting the product as a symbolic solution. Many Chinese social media users criticized the campaign for objectifying women and promoting misogyny, leading to calls for a boycott of the brand. Dettol issued a public apology on Monday, acknowledging that the content had offended many viewers. The company claimed the original intention of the campaign was to criticize gender stereotypes but admitted that online clips had distorted its message. Dettol stated it would revise its internal approval procedures for promotional material. The brand emphasized that it remains committed to upholding human dignity and equality in its corporate philosophy.