A Canadian money controversy is brewing after the nation’s central bank gave into racial pressure to change an image on its $100 bill.

The bill originally featured an Asian-looking scientists peering through a microscope, but that came under fire from eight focus groups conducted across Canada, AFP reported. The bank changed the image to a woman with neutral racial features — one who appears Caucasian — but this week revealed its original design.

The Canada money controversy was fueled by Asian-American groups, which chided the Bank of Canada for giving in to what they see as “racist feedback.” The image was meant to celebrate the innovation of scientists from Canada, but, instead, the money controversy has generated bad press for the Bank of Canada.

“That was not the bank’s intention and I apologize to those who were offended — the bank’s handling of this issue did not meet the standards Canadians justifiably expect of us,” said Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney in a statement.

The focus groups had found that the original image was “an inappropriate stereotype, i.e., Asians have an affinity for the sciences.” This stereotype was reinforced by the brown and yellow color of the money, which focus group members thought reinforced the perception that the person depicted was Asian.

Canada Money Controversy: Bank Apologizes For Racial Change To $100 Bill is a post from: The Inquisitr