Fashion Company Produces Poster Of Obama Kissing Hu

By Gabrielle Pfafflin

MADRID — The United Colors of Benetton kicked off its new Unhate Campaign Wednesday by displaying a manipulated photograph of a kiss between President Obama and his Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao, in front of the Puerta del Duomo Cathedral in Milan, Italy.

The campaign seeks to use provocative images to promote tolerance to eliminate hate in the world. The images consist of world and cultural leaders kissing to affectionately express acceptance of differences.

The company said in an official press release that the campaign, “reflect[s] Benetton’s wish to drive the desire for participation and change that animates the world’s citizens, and especially the young, inviting them to play an active, central role in its initiatives, particularly through the internet, social media and other digital applications.”

One of the campaign images displays Pope Benedict XVI kissing the Iman of the Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo. The United Colors of Benetton then removed the photograph when the Vatican protested the use of the Pope’s image in that provocative manner.

Other photos include Obama locking lips with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, as well as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu planting a wet one on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

It is unknown if the other world leaders will also pressure the United Colors of Benetton to remove the pictures.

Photo courtesy of the United Colors of Benetton Inc.