Johnson & Johnson has decided to stop selling skin-whitening creams popular in Asia and the Middle East, after such products have come under renewed social pressure in recent weeks amid a global debate about racial inequality. The company will stop selling its Clean & Clear fairness line of products, sold in India, a spokeswoman told Reuters. It was reported earlier this month that it would drop its Neutrogena Fine Fairness line, available in Asia and the Middle East. Reactions to Johnson & Johnson’s decision on social media ranged from the incredulous to the supportive. “Pure racism and sexism towards Asian women. Our rights as [an] ethnic minority are being infringed [upon],” wrote a commenter based in Hong Kong. “Her body her choice,” wrote a social media user on Twitter, while another said: “A disgrace. If people want to buy them, they have a right to do it.” Another use on Twitter wrote: “This skin whitening business is such a sham and a drudgery. It’s a mind conditioning exercise that leads you to believe that having a white complexion will help elevate or make you escape the truth of your being. I welcome this change.” In its announcement, Johnson & Johnson said: “Conversations over the past few weeks highlighted that some product names or claims on our dark spot reducer products represent fairness or white as better than your own unique skin tone. This was never our intention – healthy skin is beautiful skin.” Not fair: Philippine project fights bias against dark skin The health care company said it would no longer produce or ship the products, but that they might still appear on store shelves until stocks run out. Creams that promise to lighten or brighten skin are marketed primarily to women by the world’s biggest personal care companies, including Unilever, Procter & Gamble and L’Oreal under their respective brands Fair & Lovely, Olay and Garnier. Those companies did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Nearly 6,300 tonnes of skin lightener were sold worldwide last year, according to Euromonitor International, including products marketed as anti-ageing creams targeting dark spots or freckles. Some product names or claims on our dark spot reducer products represent fairness or white as better than your own unique skin tone. This was never our intention from Johnson & Johnson’s announcement Western beauty brands have long played to Asian desire for whiter skin and often use euphemisms such as brightening and lightening to avoid appearing racist. In Western countries, conversations around race and discrimination based on skin colour have paved the way for more inclusive approaches to beauty but in Asia, the Middle East and Africa women, and men, see paler complexion as something desirable and worth pursuing. Additional reporting by Staff reporter