Ad showing woman avoid sexual assault by using make-up remover withdrawn after it causes outrage online

Stills from a Purcotton video ad showing a woman pursued by a masked man using a make-up removal wipe to scare off her pursuer. The ad outraged Internet users who said it blamed female victims of sexual assault. The Chinese company apologised and withdrew it. — SCMP

A Chinese company’s video advertisement for women’s make-up remover wipes has been panned by online critics, leading the company to withdraw it and issue two apologies.

Purcotton, owned by Winner Medical Co released the video last week on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, showing a young woman scaring off a would-be attacker with her naked, make-up-free face after using the cleansing wipes.