Presumably inspired by the Brezhnev-Honecker kiss, the clothing company United Colors of Benetton’s 2011 ad campaign for its UNHATE Foundation featured digitally manipulated images of world leaders kissing, including Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel locking lips with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, President Barack Obama with Chinese President Hu Jintao, and Supreme Leader of North Korea Kim Jong-il with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak. The image of Pope Benedict XVI kissing a high-profile Egyptian imam Ahmed el-Tayeb was removed after the Vatican condemned it as “offensive” to the Pope and Catholics in general. In a statement, the company defended the campaign as “symbolic images of reconciliation – with a touch of ironic hope and constructive provocation.”
17 Memorable Kisses Throughout History
Smooches to remember in time for Valentine's Day
World Leaders Don’t Kiss
Full List
Kisses
- Auguste Rodin’s The Kiss
- Thomas Edison’s The Kiss
- Hershey’s Kisses
- V-J Day in Times Square Kiss
- The Kiss of Death
- KISS
- World Leaders Kiss
- Al and Tipper Gore Kiss
- Ray Bourque’s Stanley Cup Kiss
- Britney and Madonna Kiss
- Post-Stanley Cup Riots Kiss
- World Leaders Don’t Kiss
- The Obamas on The Kiss Cam
- The Fastest Runner Kiss
- The Longest Kiss
- TIME Covers of Same-Sex Couples Kisses:
- Speed Skaters Kiss