This archive report was first published on 13 November 2019.
On November 12, 2019, British billionaire Richard Branson faced intense backlash after posting a photo of a predominantly white group in South Africa.
The photo, which was part of a tweet announcing the launch of the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship, sparked accusations of racial insensitivity and sparked a heated debate on social media.
Twitter users were quick to point out the lack of diversity in the photo, with many questioning how Branson's team could have chosen a picture that excluded the majority of the population, which is predominantly black.
One Twitter user, Thula Sindi, posed the question: 'Where did you find so many white people in South Africa??? That must have really taken an honest effort for exclude the majority of the population which is just as skilled and talented. Wow. Incredible.'
Another Twitter user, SiceloNkosi, added: 'Race advocates, I'm on your side but think you got this one wrong. Please open the link before you comment. This is one of many pictures, most of which are diverse.'
However, critics still opined that the main issue was not the picture but lack of representation. As Ottilia Anna MaSibanda (@MaS1banda) pointed out: 'You're 'apologising' for a picture choice…when the fundamental issue is the evident lack of representation that the picture simply laid bare. Picture or no picture, the issue remains.'
According to the BBC, South Africa's population stands at 58 million with eight out of 10 people listed as Black African.
Branson's team later issued an apology, stating: 'We apologise for the poorly chosen image, but would like to emphasise that this does not reflect the diverse make-up of attendees.'
