Virgin Active South Africa health clubs is apologizing after removing the cochlear implant from a model in a promotional photograph it posted on Instagram.
Simone Botha Welgemoed got the implant before she was two years old. The ballerina was crowned Miss Deaf South Africa fives years ago and is an active deaf advocate in that country.
In response to the controversy, a Virgin spokesperson said:
“We issued an immediate apology to Simone. We had a good heart-to-heart meeting with her. We 100% accept that the action of photo-shopping the image is not in line with our values as a business, nor in keeping with the welcome we extend to everyone. We got it wrong and we realise that.
Virgin photoshops Simone Botha Welgemoed’s hearing aid: Former Miss Deaf South Africa Simone Botha Welgemoed… https://t.co/vHTuxStfTF pic.twitter.com/kLdtSMEOwo
— jc m. mercado (@tianz17) October 29, 2017