Chile’s Economy Minister Luis Felipe Cespedes found himself in hot water after he was presented with an inflatable sex doll at an industry dinner.
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Chile’s Economy Minister Luis Felipe Cespedes found himself in hot water after he was presented with an inflatable sex doll at an industry dinner.
The minister appeared pleased with his present and was seen laughing as he was given the gift by Roberto Fantuzzi, head of Chile’s Manufacturers’ and Exporters’ Association (otherwise known by the acronym Asexma).
The toy had a sign pasted on its head saying “to stimulate the economy”.
Mr Fantuzzi has form for handing over what he considers humorous gifts to guests at the annual bash. He gave Senator Alejandro Guiller, who is tipped to run for the presidency in 2017, a hobby horse, to catch up with the other candidates.
But social media was quick to denouce the minister as “shameful” and “inappropriate”.
The most high-profile Chilean to criticise the incident was President Bachelet, who said what happened at the dinner “can not be tolerated”.
La lucha por el respeto a la mujer ha sido un principio esencial en mis dos gobiernos. Lo ocurrido en la cena de Asexma no se puede tolerar.
— Michelle Bachelet (@mbachelet) 14 décembre 2016
Repudiamos todo acto sexista y de violencia contra las mujeres #Asexma pic.twitter.com/14hmsd1GDf
— Miles Chile (@MilesChile) 14 décembre 2016
Cespedes was quick to say sorry and that “this cannot happen and will not happen in the future.”
Roberto Fantuzzi tweeted his apology saying it was never his intention to “generate violence against women”.
En nuestro país a diario se cosifica a la mujer con la excusa del humor y cuando se denuncia solo se entregan disculpas pelotudas. #asexma
— Cecilia Perez Jara (@ceciperez1) 14 décembre 2016
Machismo rampante de empresariado chileno hace daño a la sociedad. Avala la cosificacion de las mujeres, y por ende la violencia. #Asexma
— Adriana Gómez (@AdrianaEGomez) 14 décembre 2016
PEDIMOS PERDÓN: TENGO ESPOSA, HIJAS Y NIETAS, JAMÁS LA INTENCIÓN FUE GENERAR VIOLENCIA CONTRA LA MUJER. #ASEXMA
— Roberto Fantuzzi (@rfantuzzih) 14 décembre 2016