January 1, Dove Partners with BLM Activist in “Fat Liberation” Campaign

In recent days, Dove, a renowned beauty brand, has stirred up controversy with its newest campaign choice. The company has unveiled a “fat liberation” campaign, featuring Zyahna Bryant, a well-known Black Lives Matter activist. This partnership, however, is making waves not just for its content but also for its choice of ambassador.

Bryant, as some might recall, found herself in the eye of a storm when she accused Morgan Bettinger, a white student from the University of Virginia, of stating that George Floyd protesters would make “good speed bumps” at a 2020 Charlottesville rally.

It’s important to note here that Bettinger, the subject of Bryant’s accusations, isn’t just any student—she’s a first-generation college-goer and the daughter of a fallen police officer.

What makes this story more tangled is that Bryant “later admitted she might not have heard the remarks at all, according to a report.” Such admissions raise questions about the validity of her allegations and the harm done to a potentially innocent party.

Elon Musk, tech magnate and entrepreneur, didn’t mince words when he came across this news. Responding to a tweet highlighting Dove’s new association with Bryant, Musk stated flatly, “Messed up.”

Messed up

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 14, 2023

But he’s not alone in his sentiment. The Daily Mail highlighted numerous voices echoing similar thoughts:

• “After hearing that Dove Beauty chose Zyahna Bryant — who ruined Morgan Bettinger’s life — for their ‘fat acceptance ambassador,’ THIS lifelong large lady & now former Dove customer tossed out the last three bars of Dove product she will EVER buy. I have written to Unilever too.”
• “@Dove. Do you want to get @budlight bud lighted? Because, this is how you get bud lighted.”
• “Shame on Dove, never bought the product anyway. There goes their reputation!”
• “Guess I’ve bought my last bar of Dove soap.”
• “I’ve stopped buying their products. Never again!”
• “I’ll have to toss my Dove products and never buy them again!”

Though Bryant’s claims were supported by the group Charlottesville Beyond Policing, which released a statement on Medium detailing the incident, the story begins to unravel further with a closer look.

Professional investigators from the university’s Office for Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights (EOCR) found discrepancies in the allegations. To be precise, three of the four claims Bryant made, supposedly witnessed by a large crowd, “could not be corroborated by other witnesses.”

Moreover, the only claim that had a supporting witness showed discrepancies in testimony. This witness contradicted both Bryant’s account and her own previous statements. Adding fuel to the skepticism, Bryant adjusted her account of the event, revealing she wasn’t even certain she heard the alleged comment from Bettinger.

Given this backdrop, Dove’s partnership with Bryant raises eyebrows. By choosing to champion a divisive figure, Dove’s commitment to genuine social advocacy seems to blur, leaving many to question the brand’s real intentions.

As our loyal readers, we encourage you to share your thoughts and opinions on this issue. Let your voice be heard and join the discussion below.

Source