Last week Hero Condoms launched a campaign on Tinder with the aim to help educate young Australians to be prepared for sex. However, sexual health campaigners were quick to call the ads the "biggest marketing fail," saying the ads stigmatise people with HIV and AIDS and contain an “incredible amont of misinformation and lack of science”.
Hero has now apologised, saying: "We sincerely and unreservedly apologise for any offence that may have been caused by our genuine efforts to communicate the safe sex message."
Hero explains there may have been "misunderstanding" generated from the individual representation of AIDS, and the company is "very much aware" of the social challenges that people living with HIV have to overcome. You can read the full apology at the end of this article.
The profiles that caused the most offense, Aydes and Aidy, offered jokes about HIV and AIDS.
Aidy’s profile reads: “I’m a positive kind of girl who likes to have fun. Knock knock. Who’s there? AIDS.”
Aydes' profile reads: “Only swipe right if you like: Incurable virus that destroys immune systems. Rapid weight loss. Extreme tiredness. Profuse night sweats.”
Hero's Facebook page was slammed with backlash from users:
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