Racist Backlash After Old Navy Features Multiracial Family

Yesterday, Old Navy featured an advertisement on Twitter that offered customers 30% in honor of their “Thank You Event.” However, many customers retweeted and responded to the ad with hateful, racist remarks — because the ad featured a photo of a multiracial family.

Many of the responses were extremely hateful, exhibiting how miscegenation – the dating of persons of different races – is still a subject of controversy among different groups of people.

In response to the racist backlash from some Twitter users, the Old Navy models present in the ad decided to take a stand on social media.

I’m extremely proud to have taken part in a campaign that not only celebrates our nation’s diversity, but also unites families with multicultural backgrounds and promotes love of all kinds! #LoveWins Thank you @oldnavy

A photo posted by Clay Pollioni 🇺🇸 (@clay_pollioni) on May 2, 2016 at 11:26am PDT

In light of the controversy revolving around my pretend family… I am proud to be representing interracial love, multiculturalism, and most importantly, a mentality that supports opportunity for all ethnicities. Thanks @oldnavy 🙆🏾 #lovewins #hatefreezone 💛

A photo posted by Grace Mahary (@gracemahary) on May 1, 2016 at 3:28pm PD

It was then followed by Twitter users from mixed families who shared their family pictures to take a stand against the miscegenation racism. And just like these users, we commend Old Navy for representing diverse families and not backing down from the “haters.”

.@kharyp @OldNavy Thank You Old Navy! Interracial families are beautiful and we appreciate the representation! pic.twitter.com/kVNuGHfAB9

— Noelle Devoe (@Noelle_CD) May 2, 2016

Hey @OldNavy, my family and I thank you for the diversity in this ad! #LoveWins, no matter the color ❤️ pic.twitter.com/TjgYUPMGu4

— KHARY PENEBAKER (@kharyp) May 1, 2016

@kharyp @OldNavy We’re American Black, Russian-German, Filipino & my son is half Native American & Louisiana Creole- pic.twitter.com/xJqvJ0yCCC

— Stacy Parker LeMelle (@StacyLeMelle) May 2, 2016

@OldNavy Always nice to see representation of a family that looks somewhat like ours.We’ll forgive the dude. Thanks! pic.twitter.com/zRaQ3DypD7

— Brienne of Snarth☔️ (@femme_esq) May 1, 2016

@OldNavy our interracial fam loves your advertisement! #proudfamily #lovewins #myfamilydoesntneedyourapproval ✌🏻❤️ pic.twitter.com/uT2fQTsLhQ

— Maggie Moller (@MaggieMoller) May 2, 2016

 

Alex Temblador is a writer for The Next Family, who lives in Texas and runs Fempotential.com.