Govee’s Website Features Imagery of a Book on White Supremacy

Companies often use background props in their product images for aesthetic purposes, but one choice by Govee has sparked some controversy. A keen observer noticed that two copies of a book with “white supremacy” on the spine appeared in a lifestyle shot on Govee’s website, set in what looks like a child’s bedroom.

It’s easy to think this might be the result of a botched AI generation or a careless designer’s mistake. While the image lacked any C2PA and SynthID data upon inspection, Govee clarified that it was sourced from an undisclosed “third-party licensed library.”

Govee’s PR manager, Connie Liu, acknowledged the oversight, stating, “However, we recognize that our internal review and approval process did not meet the standard required. We are taking immediate steps to strengthen our processes to ensure this does not happen again.”

Archived versions of the site indicate that the image had been live since at least April 11th, but it was removed shortly after inquiries were made.

Liu expressed regret over the incident, saying, “We sincerely apologize for the offensive content contained in this image. As soon as we became aware of the matter, the image was immediately removed from the Govee website. We are committed to ensuring all content on our platforms aligns with our core values of respect and integrity, and we take this matter extremely seriously.”

The book in question appears to be a real publication, resembling a collection of essays titled *State of White Supremacy: Racism, Governance, and the United States*. While this is less sinister than it seems, it’s still an unfortunate choice to feature without context, especially in an image promoting decorative lighting for a child’s room. Interestingly, the other book in the image, titled *Another Art Book*, is also a legitimate work by Jefferson Hack, though its cover was displayed backward.

This isn’t the first time this particular book has stirred controversy. In 2023, a British hardware retailer issued an apology after the book appeared on its website in connection with a radiator cover from a third-party vendor, stating that the product image “was not picked up by our screening process.”