A UK Government campaign urging ballet dancers to retrain as IT workers has provoked anger on social media.
Part of the government's Cyber First campaign, the ad shows a young dancer lacing her ballet shoes and says: "Fatima's next job could be in cyber (she just doesn't know it yet)"
It goes on to urge viewers to "rethink", "reboot" and "reskill".
The ad was part of a campaign hosted on the training website QA, which oversees training on new digital skills. The drive also featured workers from other sectors.
The backlash to the "Fatima" ad comes amidst ongoing fears for the future of the arts as the pandemic keeps venues shut and shows off the stage.
Those fears also extend to the support on offer to arts workers, with controversy around whether they're seen as "viable" still raging.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has said people in "all walks of life" should seek new opportunities and said those in the creative industries should adapt.
He stated: "Can things happen in exactly the way they did? No. But everyone is having to find ways to adapt and adjust to the new reality."
The ad was trending on Twitter this morning - but not for the reasons the Chancellor may have wanted.
This is a terrible ad. It should start by saying Fatima will dance again. You've got to give people hope. This is an awful time to be living through but it won't last forever. Nothing ever does. pic.twitter.com/ULAS7hRJ00
— Mhairi Hunter (@MhairiHunter) October 12, 2020
I don't know if the government know they appear to have recently created a "Hopes & Dreams Crushing Department", but for a country already depressed and anxious, I would suggest it's a bit of a "Not now, dudes" moment? https://t.co/UA6vJavKCz
— Caitlin Moran (@caitlinmoran) October 12, 2020
Takes, on average, a decade or more to become a professional ballet dancer. About the same as it takes to qualify as a GP.
— Will Buxton (@wbuxtonofficial) October 12, 2020
Not a real job though, is it?
Get behind a desk, Fatima#SaveTheArts pic.twitter.com/DM5ZNDTaM1
With less than one in five UK technology workers identifying as a woman or coming from a BAME background, Fatima's next job probably won't be in cyber either. https://t.co/Areal87LSj
— Charlotte Trueman (@charrindisguise) October 12, 2020
The response has been so bad that Oliver Dowden, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, has had to distance himself from it, saying his team is not to blame and calling it "crass".
He said: "This is not something from DCMS and I agree it was crass.
"This was a partner campaign encouraging people from all walks of life to think about a career in cyber security. I want to save jobs in the arts which is why we are investing £1.57 billion."
To those tweeting re #Fatima
— Oliver Dowden (@OliverDowden) October 12, 2020
This is not something from @DCMS & I agree it was crass
This was a partner campaign encouraging people from all walks of life to think about a career in cyber security
I want to save jobs in the arts which is why we are investing £1.57bn
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