Facebook Controversy: Company Apologizes Over Plus-Size Ad Rejection, One Group Says It's Not Enough [VIDEO]
Social media giant Facebook has found itself under fire from an Australian feminist group after the firm rejected an advertisement featuring plus-size model Tess Holliday in a bikini. According to Cherchez La Femme, the group behind the advertisement, Facebook denied the ad's publication because it depicts the model's body weight as being either "perfect or extremely undesirable."
Thinking that the rejection was probably a mistake, the feminist group immediately contacted Facebook about the issue. A Facebook ads representative then replied to the inquiry, confirming that the rejection was not a mistake after all.
"Ads like these are not allowed because they make viewers feel bad about themselves," the representative said.
The social media giant's representative further advised that a more positive image, such as a person riding a bike or running, might be more appropriate. Considering that the group behind the ad was promoting an event called Feminism and Fat, Facebook's response seemed a bit off-tangent.
The social media giant immediately backtracked on its announcement, however, alleging that the rejection was an error on the company's part.
"Our team processes millions of advertising images each week, and in some instances we incorrectly prohibit ads. This image does not violate our ad policies. We apologize for the error and have let the advertiser know we are approving their ad," another Facebook representative stated.
However, Cherchez La Femme producer Jessamy Gleeson has stated that Facebook's apology is not enough.
"It shouldn't take international media attention for Facebook to realize it has a problem with how it is policing women's bodies in its network. We would like to see Facebook seriously reconsider the policy that leads to this situation, and consult with feminists and body-positivist activists to rewrite and readdress this policy," she stated.
As much as the rejection of the ad was controversial in itself, however, it is quite interesting to note that Facebook fully supports the official page of the plus-size model featured in the ad. Indeed, Tess Holliday's profile in the social network is filled with her pictures, some of them even risque in nature.
Thus, the rejection of the ad might not be Facebook discriminating against plus-sized women at all. Rather, it could simply have been an error which arose due to a rather simple misunderstanding. In this particular case, however, it seems like the damage has been done.
