South African company apologises for sexist beer campaign

Image source, Vale Bru

Image caption, The company says it takes full "accountability for our actions and we plan on making things right"

A South African company has apologised for the branding of its new range of craft beers, which sparked an outcry, especially among women.

Vale Bru ran a marketing campaign for the beers with names such as Filthy Brunette鈥 Easy Blonde鈥 Raven Porra and Ripe Redhead.

Easy Blonde came with the tagline: "All your friends have already had her".

After being criticised for being sexist, the company promised to remove the labels and names.

The social media campaign advertised Filthy Brunette as: "When gushing and moist are used to describe something鈥 then you know."

While the Raven Porra was described as, "a porter with the best head in town". According to , Porra is a derogatory term for someone of Portuguese origin.

Thandi Guilherme, author of the platform Craft Geek, wrote on that Vale Bru "should be absolutely ashamed of yourselves. Crass, sexist, misogynistic branding and labelling".

The Johannesburg-based company issued its first apology, which has since been deleted, on Instagram. It said: "Our attempt at making you鈥 and ourselves鈥 uncomfortable鈥 worked. However鈥 we never meant to belittle or degrade you."

"If those keyboard crusaders want to carry on鈥 feel free," it added.

Ms Guilherme later wrote : "#Metoo, Rape culture and Trump's 'locker room' misogyny are not funny. These are real problems that society is trying to deal with. Don't go there."

"I understand that sex sells鈥 but these names don't hint at respectful sex,"

"Maybe they should have asked themselves whether these are things that they would appreciate people saying about their little sister."

In a new apology, Vale Bru said it took "full accountability for our actions and we plan on making things right."

"We were insensitive and wrong, for which we apologise unreservedly," it added.