Swedish retail giant H&M was forced to apologise after the company allegedly put up a racist image in an advertisement. The image created an uproar on Twitter and people lashed at the fashion retailer.
The concerned image (earlier available at this link) showed a young black boy wearing a green hoodie with “coolest monkey in the jungle” printed in the front.
Twitter users on Sunday evening started demanding answers from H&M for the problematic ad and asked to take it down. Some of the users asked for a boycott of the brand.
BOYCOTT @hm! Whose with me? @hmusa What universe do you live in that makes it okay to flaunt your racist ways in such an epic portion. I demand you remove this ad! This child is precious and should be treated as such! #boycottH&M #racists #coolestmonkeyinthejungle #notonmywatch pic.twitter.com/eY4f7nKxvi— Alexandra Foucard (@AFoucard) January 8, 2018
So the black kid gets to wear the H&M sweater with "Coolest monkey in the jungle" and the white kid with "Survival expert". This is beyond disgusting. It's a projection of your neocolonial thinking. You won't see me anywhere near your shops these days @hm. pic.twitter.com/Gl7OtdVw4pRelated stories
— Volkan (@vulkaanrots) 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
Every company should invest in training that encompasses cultural competency and sensitivity. It is absolutely necessary. @hm pic.twitter.com/efMR0oL3jx— The King Center (@TheKingCenter) January 8, 2018
. @hm, have you lost your damned minds?!?!?! pic.twitter.com/EYuCXLZtv3— Charles M. Blow (@CharlesMBlow) January 8, 2018
"The image has been removed from all online channels…we believe in diversity and inclusion in all that we do and will be reviewing all our internal policies accordingly to avoid any future issues."
By Monday, the image was taken off from the H&M UK website, where it was earlier uploaded. Moreover, Canadian singer The Weeknd (real name Abel Tesfaye) who endorsed the brand announced to snap ties with the company.
The 27-year-old Grammy winner announced his decision on Twitter and said that he had been “deeply offended” by the ad.
woke up this morning shocked and embarrassed by this photo. i’m deeply offended and will not be working with @hm anymore... pic.twitter.com/P3023iYzAb— The Weeknd (@theweeknd) January 8, 2018
However, not all people saw the ad as racist. Some said it was a normal ad with a black model or just a coincidence.
It may have been just a random coincidence? Ever thought about that?— Satirical Gamer (@Satirical_Gamer) January 8, 2018
If he was white would you say the same thing ? No
Its a top— 23Elmo (@SilverBandit_) January 8, 2018
Who is actually the racist? H&M, or those saying the lad can’t be ‘the coolest monkey in the jungle’ because of his colour!— Greg West (@WestyG77) January 8, 2018
Omg wait, I will say this, since I had my kid I've noticed A LOT, I MEAN A LOT, of mom's call their kids monkeys. As a term of endearment. Truly truly in adoration! I've seen it so much. In white mom's. They think it's adorable.— SpecialSnowFlake (@miamidecor) January 8, 2018
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