Images of President Barack Obama kissing other world leadershave sparked controversy. The fakepictures were released as part of a new campaign by the United Colors ofBenetton.
Alessandro Benetton, executive deputy chairman, wrote that"The images are very strong, but we have to send a strong message. We arenot wanting to be disrespectful of the leaders ... we consider them"conception figures" making a statement of brotherhood with akiss," he said.
The group says that they hope the ads will contribute to aculture of tolerance and get rid of hate. They are hoping young people will post the images of world leaderskissing, "on the walls of locations symbolic of the desperately-neededpeace process: Tel Aviv, New York, Rome, Milan, Paris."
The reactions have been swift and strong. President of the Italian Association forCatholic Viewers Luca Borgomeo asked that the campaign be withdrawnimmediately. "Is it possible thatRTL can't think of anything better?" he said.
"The White House has a longstanding policy disapprovingof the use of the president's name and likeness for commercial purposes," saidWhite House spokesman Eric Schultz.
