Diddy and The Weeknd hit back at 'racist' H&M photo of little boy
H&M has has been labelled ‘racist’ for posting a controversial picture of a little boy wearing a jumper on their website.
People were left baffled by the retailer’s choice to feature a young black boy on their website wearing a green hoodie with the slogan ‘Coolest Monkey in the Jungle’ emblazoned on the front.
And although H&M has now deleted the image from its website, it hasn’t stopped the store from being slammed online and even singer The Weeknd has cut ties with the brand.
Whose idea was it at @hm to have this little sweet black boy wear a jumper that says ‘coolest monkey in the jungle’?
I mean. What. pic.twitter.com/6AJfMdQS4L— Stephanie Yeboah (@NerdAboutTown) January 7, 2018
"Woke up this morning shocked and embarrassed by this photo. i’m deeply offended and will not be working with @hm anymore," The Weeknd wrote on Twitter.
Stars like P Diddy also took to their social media accounts to blast the retailer for their "disrespectful" campaign.
"Put some respect on it!! When you look at us make sure you see royalty and super natural God sent glory!! Anything else is disrespectful," P Diddy said.
Other Twitter users were quick to slam H&M for the image.
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
“It’s 2018 and Black People are still dealing with blatant disrespect and ignominy. This H&M ad is downright shameful and disgusting,” one person Tweeted.
“Whose idea was it at @hm to have this little sweet black boy wear a jumper that says ‘coolest monkey in the jungle’?” another person said online.
“We really must think where we shop. I will NOW boycott H&M, ZERO tolerance of racism. I am angry and disappointed,” an angry commenter tweeted.
The top, which is still available on the website for $14, has now been replaced with an image of just the hoodie.
It’s 2018 and Black People are still dealing with blatant disrespect and ignominy. This H&M ad is downright shameful and disgusting! For ignorant people, H&M is advertising/marketing a hoodie that says people of African descent are monkeys. pic.twitter.com/JFeTAFJh21
— Malcolm X Disciple (@richardalanlove) January 8, 2018
We really must think where we shop. I will NOW boycott H&M, ZERO tolerance of racism. I am angry and disappointed.
— Revd Jide Macaulay (@RevJide) January 8, 2018
@hm And then H&M UK got the bright idea to feature a black boy model with 'Coolest Monkey in the Jungle' hoodie on its website. How on earth can this be?
SHAME ON YOU ! pic.twitter.com/3FaKCqviLQ— Models Of Diversity (@ModsOfDiversity) January 8, 2018
Ok unpopular opinion on the H&M hoodie problem.
As far as I know “Cheeky monkey” “little monkey” or just ”monkey” are common child nicknames and it's racist for you people to assume that there are any other connotations.— Jamie Preston 🅴 (@JamiiePreston) January 8, 2018
The outrage about the hoodie comes after a mum was let furious with the store back in November.
Shopper Claire, couldn’t fit into a size 16 dress from the brand – despite being a size 14.
She put a very angry emoji over her face and a picture beside it of the H&M model wearing the exact same dress.
“I think I look quite similar to the model in this H&M dress,” she captioned the snap.
“In fact…do I have twin,” she continued with three laughing emoji’s.
“Are they having a bloody laugh.”
Claire went on to say that she realises she has her jeans halfway down and her trainers still on in the snap but she has previously fit into a smaller size at the same shop.
“This is a size 16, a bloody 16!!” she continued.
“I got the bigger size because H&M sizing is crap, one minute I need a small and the next a 18.
“I literally just about got myself out of it let alone in it.”
Claire said her mum “died laughing” at her anger but she was absolutely “raging”.
“why can’t shops sort out their sizing?,” she wrote.
How is this a 16? I’m a 14.
She went on to say that the garment looked more like a top on her than a dress.
“I give up. Maybe I’ll start making my own clothes.” She finished the post.
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