This ad appeared in First Nations newspaper The Drum. It was published on behalf of Liberal MP Joyce Murray, and was meant to offer congrats to aboriginal high school graduates. It offended a lot of people.
There was a lot of backlash.
Murray quickly issued a full and unreserved apology. She said she was not aware of the ad, and did not approve it.
It was then revealed that the ad was the work of the sales department at The Drum, rather than Murray.
Some gave Murray props for apologizing so quickly and completely, even though she did not personally create or approve the ad.
But hold on there, Joyce Murray. The Drum also needs to apologize.
Good to hear. Apologies were definitely in order for this offensive ad. Oh, and Littlechild also apologized to Murray.
The CP story said:
Liberal MP Joyce Murray is apologizing for a newspaper advertisement in which she appears to be feeding racial stereotypes about aboriginal people.
But the newspaper, in turn, is apologizing to Murray for running the ad without noticing it contained offensive content that had been written, without the Vancouver MP's knowledge, by one of its sales people.
Good job, everyone. That's three apologies. Wait, what's this?
Littlechild told CP that Murray should not be apologizing and taking responsibility.
"She shouldn't take any responsibility, he said. "I mean, we came up with the slogan, that wasn't her. She had nothing to do with it."