Swiss watchmaker Swatch has issued an apology and retracted advertisements that featured an Asian male model making a “slanted eye” gesture, which drew widespread online criticism in China.

Many commenters condemned the images as reminiscent of racist stereotypes regarding Asian eyes.

In a statement posted in both Chinese and English on its official Weibo account, Swatch acknowledged the backlash, stating it had “taken note of the recent concerns” and removed all related materials globally.

“We sincerely apologise for any distress or misunderstanding this may have caused,” the company said, also sharing the apology on Instagram.

The Swatch Group, which includes brands like Omega, Longines, and Tissot, is significantly reliant on the Chinese market, with approximately 27% of its sales last year coming from China, Hong Kong, and Macau.

Last year, the watchmaker’s revenue fell by 14.6% to 6.74 billion Swiss francs ($8.4 billion) due to declining demand in China, where the company noted “persistently difficult market conditions and weak demand for consumer goods overall.”