Urban Outfitters has apologized for selling a “vintage” Kent State University sweatshirt which features a design that resembles bloodstains.
Urban Outfitters has a long history of ripping off the work of amateur designers without giving them any sort of recognition, but this is undoubtedly the worst stunt the clothing company has pulled yet.
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The female sweatshirt is an obvious, disgraceful nod to the Kent State massacre that took place on May 4th, 1970, in which the Ohio National Guard fired 67 rounds at unarmed college students, killing four and injuring nine. Urban Outfitters distanced themselves from any wrongdoing in a statement posted on Twitter, which reads: “Urban Outfitters sincerely apologizes for any offense our Vintage Kent State Sweatshirt may have caused. It was never our intention to allude to the tragic events that took place at Kent State in 1970 and we are extremely saddened that this item was perceived as such.
“The one-of-a-kind item was purchased as part of our sun-faded vintage collection. There is no blood on this shirt nor has this item been altered in any way. The red stains are discoloration from the original shade of the shirt and the holes are from natural wear and fray. Again, we deeply regret that this item was perceived negatively and we have removed it immediately from our website to avoid further upset.”
Here’s how the sweatshirt was being sold on Urban Outfitters’ site, before it was seemingly taken down:
Clicking on a link to the page states that the sweatshirt is “Sold Out,” though it is more likely that the item was removed due to the backlash that accompanied it. It was retailing for $129, though there are much cheaper alternatives you can try out to prove that you’re a dickhead to everyone you know, such as intentionally making a baby cry, or kicking a puppy.
We can only imagine how many unwitting young people purchased this sweatshirt before the learning of the Kent State shootings.
Kent State released a statement regarding the sweatshirt via the university’s official website, writing: “May 4, 1970, was a watershed moment for the country and especially the Kent State family. We lost four students that day while nine others were wounded and countless others were changed forever.
We take great offense to a company using our pain for their publicity and profit. This item is beyond poor taste and trivializes a loss of life that still hurts the Kent State community today.
“We invite the leaders of this company as well as anyone who invested in this item to tour our May 4 Visitors Center, which opened two years ago, to gain perspective on what happened 44 years ago and apply its meaning to the future. “
