The Govee executive issued an apology, 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 Verge suggested that the image may depict a real book, State of White Supremacy: Racism, Governance, and the United States. But because the books in the image showed only the phrase “white supremacy,” it’s unclear whether they depicted that collection of essays (or any real publication at all). We’ve contacted Govee for further comment.

According to an archived version of the Govee website from Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine, the image was on Govee’s site since at least April 11. The situation points to a troubling lack of oversight for marketing materials that are slapped together and posted online, especially in an age when AI-generated images are becoming inescapable.

Although using images from stock libraries or generative AI tools can help save money and time and simplify work processes, photographing a real space with real products is a safer and more honest way to showcase products. In Govee’s case, it’s worth noting that photographing colorful LEDs accurately presents unique challenges. But that’s ultimately a problem for the company to solve.

For shoppers, the fiasco may not just be vexing but also a reminder that you can’t trust the flashy (and potentially offensive) images that vendors use to promote gadgets.