Microsoft Photoshop Fun. Is it racist?

Initially I thought it was just someone having some fun in Photoshop trying to take a stab at Microsoft, but it’s real, and Microsoft has issued an apology. “We are looking into the details of this situation. We apologize and are in the process of pulling down the image,” Microsoft spokesperson Lou Gellos said. See the comparison after the break.

Is it racist? It’s definitely very clumsy. Perhaps one could dismiss it as an attempt at localization; there aren’t as many black people in Poland as there are in some other countries where Microsoft operates. However, several details that are at the very least odd have turned this into a PR mini-disaster for Microsoft.

Here is our version:

First of all, the hand of the black man was not replaced in the altered photo; yes, it’s hard to notice if you don’t see the original, but now it adds a layer of creepiness over the image. Secondly, the Asian man was not replaced; is this because there’s a significant number of Asians, but not blacks, in Poland? I doubt it. Props to Microsoft for quickly issuing an apology, but now that the word is out, I bet we’ll see this image a lot more in funny Photoshop threads in the days to come. [Mashable]

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