'Fair & Lovely' Skin Lightening Brand, Popular In South Asia, To Change Name

Generations of South Asians have grown up with grocery aisles full of Fair & Lovely skin-lightening products.

Its manufacturer, Unilever, said Thursday that it's dropping the word "fair" from the Fair & Lovely brand name – and also eliminating any references to the cream's whitening or lightening affects.

The company says the change will happen "in the next few months," and will affect Fair & Lovely products sold across Asia.

Thousands of people had signed online petitions in recent weeks, accusing Unilever of promoting "anti-blackness" and calling on the company to halt production and marketing of its Fair & Lovely brand.

Another skin-lightening brand marketed toward Indian men – called Fair & Handsome – is made by a different company, Emami, and no name change has been announced there.