Ad with Ashton Kutcher as ‘Raj’ yanked after outcry

E-Paper | June 14, 2026

Actor Ashton Kutcher poses for photographers at the premiere of “Open Season” in Los Angeles, in this Sept. 25, 2006 file photo. An online ad featuring Ashton Kutcher as an Indian man has been pulled offline after it received online criticism. The images and video for Popchips featuring the 34-year-old “Two and a Half Men” star in brown make-up portraying a Bollywood producer named Raj who is “looking for love” was removed from YouTube and Facebook after it was criticized for being racist. - AP Photo

LOS ANGELES— An online ad featuring Ashton Kutcher as an Indian man has been pulled offline after viewers called it racist.

The images and video for Popchips feature the 34-year-old "Two and a Half Men" star in brown makeup portraying a Bollywood producer named Raj who is "looking for love." They were removed from YouTube and Facebook after being criticized online.

Other videos featuring Kutcher as a stoner, tattooed Southerner and pasty fashionista remain online.

A spokeswoman for Popchips says the dating parody featuring the four characters was "created to provoke a few laughs and was never intended to stereotype or offend anyone." She added that the company hopes "people can enjoy this in the spirit it was intended."

A spokeswoman for Kutcher hasn't return messages seeking comment.

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Entertainment

jamal

May 03, 2012 10:30pm

i would have liked to watch it .

Recommend 0

Shaan

May 03, 2012 06:37pm

I don't see any fuss about it.

Recommend 0

Jack

May 03, 2012 11:12am

The adverts are quite amusing. What a great plan for free media spotlight. Get your ads promoted by the AP by dressing Ashton as an Indian. Good thing he didn't pick any other ethnicities to portray. Imagine the outrage. Let's get beyond the pseudo-sensitivity and learn how to laugh. Kudos to Kutcher for having a creative sense of humor.

Recommend 0

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