Apple apologized to Thailand after a controversial advertisement was criticized

Apple has issued an apology to Thailand for a recently released advertisement that has sparked widespread criticism due to its outdated and stereotypical depiction of the country. Some viewers were so offended that they called for a boycott of Apple products.

The controversial short film, titled The Underdogs: OOO (Out Of Office), was removed from Apple UK’s YouTube channel on Friday, two weeks after its initial upload.

In an apology statement, Apple Thailand explained, “For the advertisement The Underdogs: OOO (Out Of Office), we collaborated closely with a Thai company to produce a film shot in the kingdom. Our intention was to highlight the culture and provide a positive perspective of the country. We apologize that the commercial failed to accurately represent Thailand as it is today.”

This film is the fifth installment in Apple’s “At Work” series and was uploaded to the official Apple UK YouTube channel. The nearly 10-minute video follows four employees traveling to Thailand in search of a factory capable of supplying half a million boxes to meet their company’s needs. Throughout the journey, the film showcases the innovative features of Apple’s products as the employees navigate various challenges.