Trendy Melbourne bar is slammed for ‘racist’ and ‘insensitive’ coronavirus promotion offering Corona beer for $8, a free face mask and ‘Happy Ending’ cocktails
- Melbourne bar and promotional company are slammed for ‘racist’ marketing
- Pawn & Co and Mr Chan’s advertised ‘Corona Chinese New Year Special’ event
- Promotion included $8 Corona beers, face masks and ‘happy ending’ cocktails
- The event was slammed by the Chinese-Australia Friendship Association
A bar and its promoters have been slammed as being ‘insensitive’ and ‘racist’ after launching their Corona Chinese New Year Special event with $8 Corona beers and face masks.
Melbourne cocktail bar Pawn & Co and their promotional company Mr Chan’s advertised the event, which also featured ‘Happy Ending cocktails’ on Facebook.
But the promotion quickly backfired and the company were forced to apologise.
Melbourne cocktail bar Pawn & Co and promotional marketing company Mr Chan’s have been slammed for an ‘insensitive’, ‘offensive’ and ‘racist’ promotion using the novel coronavirus as a marketing tool (pictured)
President of the Chinese-Australia Friendship Association Anthony Leong described the event as ‘ignorant, racist and insensitive’, ABC News reported.
‘I was surprised that somebody, anybody, could be so insensitive and ignorant in terms of profiting from this and thinking it was funny,’ Mr Leong said.
‘I think the timing is not just ill-conceived and insulting, it also shows a lack of knowledge, empathy and humanity.’
Following the backlash both businesses pulled the event and were forced to apologise.
‘From the team at Pawn & Co, we would like to unreservedly apologise for the insensitive and inappropriate marketing that has been circulated by Mr Chan’s,’ a Pawn & Co statement read.
‘Whilst it is an external promotional company that owns the Mr Chans brand, we acknowledge that we should have been more active in understanding the communication being marketed and how it might be perceived.
‘We will immediately look to make changes here that reflect the values of our venue, team and the broader community.’
Mr Chan’s also released a statement apologising for the marketing stunt.
Mr Chan’s was set to host the ‘Corona Chinese New Year Special’ at the Pawn & Co (pictured) which was offering $8 Corona beers, free face masks and ‘happy ending’ cocktails before they were slammed by the Chinese-Australia Friendship Association
‘We recognise that a promotional post that was made last week was offensive and we unreservedly apologise for this,’ the statement read.
‘We also recognise that some of our past promotional material was inappropriate, once again we apologise for this.
‘We are taking action and reviewing the Mr Chan’s branding immediately, it is important for us to run a night that is inclusive for all.’
Since the post Mr Chan’s has deactivated its Instagram account.
Mr Leong said the apologies were ‘too little too late’.
‘They need to be held to account. To make light of something that has been fatal to hundreds of people is the height of inhumanity and insensitivity,’ he said.
Despite the backlash against both businesses a large number of the comments from social media users supported them.
‘Clearly being comical in all the promotions it’s not like you guys design promos to target and offend,’ one user wrote.
‘I think your Facebook posts are fantastic. It’s entertaining and refreshing seeing the way you guys approach your marketing,’ another added.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Leong for further comment.