Ikea China pulls commercial after criticism

Furniture retailer Ikea China has apologised and retracted a commercial criticised for allegedly prejudice toward single people.

Public backlash was aired on social media following the appearance of the 30-second advertisement, with the tagline “Celebrate every day in an easy way”, on Sina Weibo.

It featured a woman harshly telling her daughter over dinner, “Don’t call me ‘mom’ anymore if you cannot bring a boyfriend home”.

It then lightened up when the doorbell rang and a young man was revealed holding flowers. The daughter coyly introduced him as her boyfriend, and suddenly Ikea furniture popped up all over the living room. The dinner then turned into a welcome party.