Swatch apologises for ‘slanted eye’ ad after backlash


People walk past a store of Swiss watchmaker Swatch, in Beijing, China August 18, 2025. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang

Swiss watchmaker Swatch issued an apology and pulled ads featuring images of an Asian male model pulling the corners of his eyes up and backwards in a “slanted eye” pose.

The images for the Swatch Essentials collection were widely condemned online in China, where many comments said they appeared to mimic racist taunts about Asian eyes.

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