Dettol apologises after a promotional video released in China drew widespread criticism online. Several outlets report that the brand posted a roughly five-minute advert for a multipurpose disinfectant that attempted to challenge attitudes described as sexist or harmful toward women. In the ad, a man rejects his current relationship after learning his girlfriend previously lived with someone else, compares the situation to a “secondhand service,” and says he plans to find a “clean and untouched” woman for whom he can be the first sexual partner.
BBC News and other sources say critics accused the campaign of sexism, arguing it reinforced the idea that women are “tainted” by prior relationships. Dettol responded publicly with an apology, with reports noting the company had said it intended to criticise “toxic men” and use the concept as a message against harmful behaviour. However, social media users and commentators described the content as offensive, leading to calls for a boycott in some quarters. The advert was reportedly released across multiple online platforms toward the end of May, and the controversy prompts Dettol’s follow-up statement and withdrawal or suspension of the campaign.
