The Ivy Asia in Chelsea has had to apologise for a “culturally insensitive” ad campaign.
The restaurant posted a video on social media which featured women dressed as geishas being pulled in a rickshaw to the restaurant.
Acclaimed food writer Jay Rayner, described the ad as “premeditated racist stereotyping” and many others were outraged at the ad. The Ivy deleted the video, said it was sorry and promised an internal review.
In the advert, women dressed as geishas struggle to get into a rickshaw being pulled by an elderly Asian man. It tips over and they are saved by a martial arts-type figure labelled “the hero”, who uses superhuman strength to propel them to the restaurant.
It hasn’t ended well, with an embarrassing climb-down by the restaurant group.