BENETTON TO SEND APOLOGIES TO VICTIMS' FAMILIES
By Adnews Staff
Benetton said it will send letters to the families of the victims of four Missouri inmates featured in the retailer's Death Row advertising campaign last year. Shortly after the multimedia ad effort began last year, the retailer was accused of misrepresenting the purpose of the interviews with the inmates and of making false claims to state officials in order to gain access to the correctional centre. Pictures of Missouri death-row inmates appeared in an advertising campaign for the retailer, which Benetton said aimed to contribute to the debate about the death penalty and not sell clothing. In addition to the letters, in which Benetton will express regret for any renewed pain the campaign may have caused the families, the retailer will also make a US$50,000 donation to the Missouri Crime Victims' Fund. The agreement ends a lawsuit brought against Benetton Group SpA, its U.S. subsidiary and the four people who worked on the project. According to Benetton, the company made the deal to put an end to the legal action and its escalating costs.