This is Nivea’s 2006 Around The World commercial.
Note those words at the end – Wherever Skin Needs Care – because apparently even with the dry heat, this does not include Israel.
Israeli model/actress/tv presenter Becky Griffin writes on Facebook:
Hi there,
My name is Rebecca Griffin, I am an Israeli-American that used to use your products-but never again. I believe in “Never say Never”, but in this case it is fair to say that I will never buy your products, and I will make sure that others don’t either.
“Why?” I hear you ask? Well, the answer is quite simple. I don’t support racism and I don’t support Anti-Israeli propaganda.
I was very surprised to find out that according to you, my country, Israel is good enough to sell your products in, but not worth being a part of the rest of the world. When asked to select my location on your website www.nivea-international.com/pages/int-country-selection I couldn’t do so.
Israel, an entity recognized by the UN as a country, does not appear on your website. The Palestinian Authority however, appears, even though it is not recognized as a country. I would love to understand why you choose to eliminate us off the map of the world? Such behavior reminds me the history of your country, Germany, and the Nazi Regime. Or is it the Iranian regime that denies the holocaust and calls to wipe us off the map that you support? Is it the terror groups such as Hamas, Hizballah and IHH to name just a few that you wish to keep happy? Or is basic business- there are more ‘Arab customers’ than Israelis, so you would rather risk losing our business than theirs?
I simply cannot believe that I am even writing such a letter in the year 2011.
You should be ashamed of yourselves and yes, this will not go away quietly, or ignored.
You make me feel scared, and sick to my stomach.
I usually end letters with “Thank you” but I will not thank you for discriminating me, my people, or my country.
Rebecca Griffin
(This is a copy of an official complaint I sent to Nivea via their discriminating website)- and don’t be confused by the ‘Nivea Israel Official” Facebook page
As of this post, Nivea has done nothing to rectify the issue.
I guess Nivea see us as the wrinkle of the Middle East.
Update: Nivea have now added Israel:
When clicking on the link, you get to this page which says the web site will be up soon.
Too little, too late. I still won’t allow a Nivea product to touch my beautiful skin.
