Google takes 'Make Me Asian' app out of the store

After being protested and criticized as racist, Google recently pulled the apps “Make Me Asian” and “Make Me Indian” from its online store. The app “Make Me Asian” allows users to change their appearance by adding Fu Manchu mustaches and straw hats.

According to the original sales pitch, it is “just a fun app that lets you indulge you and your friends." However, a lot of people don’t see this as fun but as racist. The Week reports that a pastor in Washington D.C., Peter Chin, started a petition on Change.org to get the app removed and collected more than 8,000 signatures.

Another group used Twitter as their campaign by using a hash tag, #makemeracist, also aimed at getting the app removed. The app received critiques from The Asian-American Legal Defense and Education Fund. Ujala Sehgal, the communications coordinator, told The Wrap, “Google shouldn’t be in the business of promoting racist stereotypes."

Google is not the only company that got criticism for offensive products. Just a few days ago, when GQ released their Sexiest Women List, they were also criticized as offensive with their ethnic-specific categories, like “Hottest Indian Chick,” “Hottest Italian Chick” and “Hottest Chinese Chick."