Photo: Robert Alexander/Getty Images
I admit that sometimes people are overdramatic and go overboard over the smallest of things. But man, this ad that clothing store H&M put on their British website is pretty absurd and they are deservedly getting bashed over it.
On Sunday night, New York Times columnist Charles Blow shared a tweet that showed a hoodie ad from the store. The ad shows a young kid wearing a hoodie that says “coolest monkey in the jungle.”
Well, just see who is wearing that hoodie in the ad:
. @hm, have you lost your damned minds?!?!?! pic.twitter.com/EYuCXLZtv3
— Charles M. Blow (@CharlesMBlow) January 8, 2018
Um…
Yeah, not the best choice of child model. Was this just a horrible mistake? Perhaps. But Twitter wasn’t having any of it:
Disgusting shame on You @HM
— Tonya Pinkins (@tonyapinkins) January 8, 2018
Nah bruh. This can’t be real. pic.twitter.com/AxRYMyMIv6
— Chukwuma (@Naija_AC3) January 8, 2018
Fixed this H&M ad I saw earlier today pic.twitter.com/ItX0zzfhlw
— Mimicgawd (@Mimicgawd) January 8, 2018
but wait for it…there’s also the loaded message on the orange hoodie…the junior tour guide & jungle official survivor expert…the entire narrative is a fail for 2018. pic.twitter.com/8hpHQPxOgQ
— paisley (@alwayspaisley) January 8, 2018
In the year 2018 there’s no way brands/art directors can be this negligent and lack awareness. If look at other sweaters in same category they have white kids. We have to do better. pic.twitter.com/Av4bS4t6yn
— alex medina (@mrmedina) January 8, 2018
Look at EVERY kid/ sweatshirt pairing. It’s absolutely intentional racism
— Wendy Parr (@wendyparr) January 8, 2018
All of this backlash made H&M apologize:
“This image has now been removed from all H&M channels and we apologize to anyone this may have offended.”
I shop at H&M sometimes, but boy, this is not a good start to the year for them at all. To think that no one in that entire marketing department said, “Hey, this isn’t a good idea” is mind blowing.
What do you all think?
h/t Someecards
