Subscribe
Hellobeautiful Featured Video
CLOSE

Swedish retailer H&M is feeling the heat after running a controversial ad, featuring a young Black boy modeling a hoodie with the phrase, “coolest monkey in the jungle.”

Social media users slammed the retailer after the ad went viral, ultimately prompting the retailer to pull it down.

“This image has now been removed from all H&M channels and we apologize to anyone this may have offended,” said H&M (HNNMY) spokeswoman Anna Eriksson. The ad first appeared on the British version of the online store.

It is an understatement to say that the ad was in poor taste and inflamed the age-old stereotype of comparing Black people to monkeys.

Several notable celebrities like Charles Blow and Questlove of The Roots, commented on the retailer’s poor judgement.

Other social media users like @Mimicgawd saw it as an opportunity to restore the young child’s agency and photoshopped over the phrase.

SOURCE: CNN

DON’T MISS:

Golden Globes 2018: Oprah Brought Down The House, Sterling K. Brown Made History

#TimesUp: There’s A Silent Protest Happening At The Golden Globes & Mary J Blige Is In On It

And The Award Goes To: Best In Black Hair On The 75th Golden Globe Red Carpet
75th Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
13 photos

The grand return of the Melanin Awards amplifies and honors the finest Black-owned beauty brands with honest reviews, and discusses the evolution of beauty in Hip-Hop culture.