Aeromexico wants only light-skinned actors

Mexico airline apologizes for light-skin casting

By Adriana Gomez LiconMexico's Aeromexico airline and its ad agency have apologized for a producer's casting call requesting that only light-skinned people apply as actors for a television commercial.

Mexico's population is largely dark-skinned, but Mexican television ads routinely feature light-skinned actors, sparking accusations of racial discrimination.

The commercial has not yet been made, but the casting call specified it wanted "nobody dark skinned," only actors with "white skin."

The Catatonia ad agency said this week that a third company that sent out the casting call had used "inappropriate" language. "We regret this situation, which in no way reflects our thinking as a company or as individuals," Catatonia said on its Twitter account.

Aeromexico also apologized, and blamed Catatonia for the "discriminatory attitude" of the casting call. "We offer our deepest apology and reaffirm our respect for all people, without regard to their gender, language, religion or skin color," the airline said in a statement.

The casting call also said producers didn't want anyone with blond hair or blue eyes.

For some social media users, the casting call confirmed what they say is a long history of implicit discrimination in Mexico.

Although most Mexicans have some Indian blood, and 6.7 million Mexicans over 5 years old speak an indigenous language, Indians have suffered persistent racial discrimination since the Spanish conquest in the early 1500s.

Blogger Tamara de Anda said Friday that she was a taken aback when she saw the casting call, and shared it on social networking sites.

"I always get these racist ads, but they've never been so explicit," De Anda said.

The casting call also seemed worded to exclude anyone who doesn't look wealthy. It sought people "with a Polanco Look," referring to a wealthy, largely white Mexico City neighborhood. It also said producers didn't want a "government look," an apparent reference to people who appear in ads promoting government social aid programs.Comment:  For more on Mexican racism, see Mexican Inspector Humiliates Tzotzil Boy and Indigenous Mexicans Face Prejudice.