Lowe South Africa is currently subject to what effectively constitutes a media blackout following instructions from Lowe & Partners headquarters in London to decline media interviews. The Johannesburg office of the agency was heavily criticised in media and on social platforms last week for an ad it produced for Unilever margarine brand Flora that was deemed homophobic by critics.
Attempts to contact the Lowe SA leadership team though the course of last week proved unsuccessful.
The agency did put out a Facebook message apologising for the ad and followed with a statement from new Lowe SA CEO Adelle Wapnick saying, 
“We acknowledge the pain that the advert has caused and are deeply regretful of this. The advert does not in any way reflect the views of Lowe SA and does not form part of our value system – we are an organically diverse company. We are working with the client on appropriate remedies. We apologise profusely to all those who have been offended.”
The release invited journalists to contact Wapnick for further comment.
Asked why calls and emails haven’t been returned Renee Schonborn of Little Black Book PR, which holds the PR account for Lowe in South Africa, said that: “The Lowe & Partners office in London has requested that we not have any interviews / media conversations at this time. It is being dealt with at the highest level – with both Unilever and Lowe & Partners meeting to discuss and remedy.”
According to Schonborn media interviews will be granted as soon the current investigation is concluded and the go-ahead is given by London.
See Lowe + Partners criticised for ‘homophobic’ Flora ad
See Unilever calls Flora ads ‘offensive and unacceptable’
See Lowe + Partners apologises for ‘homophobic’ Flora ad