( CNN ) -- Aeromexico airline and an advertising company apologized for a commercial casting call that said `` dark-skinned '' people would not be allowed to audition . The casting call sought those with a `` Polanco look , '' referring to a well-to-do white neighborhood in Mexico City . A photo of the casting e-mail was taken by Mexican blogger Tamara De Anda , who expressed her frustrations on how the representations of brown people in Mexican media largely do not exist outside of government program announcements . On Twitter , De Anda posted , `` I received an email for a casting call from Aeromexico specifying that they do n't want anyone dark-skinned . Tsss . '' About 400 retweets later , the story gained traction on social media . With a population of 20 million , Mexico City 's racial makeup consists of mestizo ( Amerindian-Spanish ) 60 % ; Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian 30 % ; white 9 % ; and other 1 % , according to The World Factbook . The airline pointed to an ad agency , Catatonia . Aeromexico on Tuesday issued an apology for the language on Twitter , stating , `` We 're sorry for Catatonia 's discriminatory stance , that was circulated today on social media . We offer our sincerest apology and reiterate our respect for all people , no matter their gender , language , religion , nor their skin color . '' Catatonia expressed regret , according to Fox News Latino , stating it `` offers a heartfelt apology for the publication on casting requirements that circulated on social networks . '' Opinion : In Mexico , racism hides in plain view . The ad agency pointed to language used by a casting company . Perceptions of skin color and discussions of racism have long been a subject of debate in Latin America . Ruben Navarrette Jr. , in a 2012 opinion piece for CNN , wrote , `` On television , in politics and in academia , you see light-skinned people . On construction sites , in police forces and in restaurant kitchens , you 're more likely to find those who are dark-skinned . `` In the priciest neighborhoods , the homeowners have light skin , and the housekeepers are dark . Everyone knows this , and yet no one talks about it , at least not in elite circles . '' CNN reached out to Aeromexico on Friday but did not receive an immediate response .
Casting call for airline ad disallows dark-skinned participants . Aeromexico and ad agency apologize . Skin color subject of much discussion in Latin America .