Abercrombie pulls 'racist' Asian theme T-shirts
 

Abercrombie pulls 'racist' Asian theme T-shirts


SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) --Clothing maker Abercrombie & Fitch said on Thursday it was pulling a new line of Asian-themed T-shirts after Asian-American groups complained they were a blatant example of racist stereotyping.

The shirts, which retail for $25, hit the shelves this week and carry caricatures of slant-eyed Asians in conical hats along with such slogans as "WONG BROTHERS LAUNDRY SERVICE: TWO WONGS CAN MAKE IT WHITE" and "WOK-N-BOWL -- CHINESE FOOD AND BOWLING."

"It is not and never has been our intention to offend anyone," Abercrombie spokesman Hampton Carney said.

"These graphic T-shirts were designed with the sole purpose of adding humor and levity to our fashion line. Since some customers have been offended by their content, we are pulling these shirts from our stores," he added.

'It is just like the 1800s'
Asian-American groups in California reacted with anger this week after the shirts appeared in local Abercrombie stores, with local activists saying their cartoonish representation of Asian figures carried a racist message.

"This is really blatant. It is just like the 1800s," said the Rev. Norman Fong, program director at San Francisco's Chinatown Community Development Center.

"The company has been totally insensitive, and people are pretty upset."

Carney said the popular youth clothing maker had believed the shirts might appeal to Asian-American consumers, and was surprised by the hostile reception they received.

"The thought was that everyone would love them, especially the Asian community. We thought they were cheeky, irreverent and funny and everyone would love them. But that has not been the case."

Carney was unable to estimate how many shirts would be recalled from Abercrombie's roughly 500 stores nationwide, although he said a number of stores had not yet taken delivery of the items.

Abercrombie & Fitch, based in New Albany, Ohio, has been the target of consumer complaint before. In 1998 Mothers against Drunk Driving protested a two-page advertising spread entitled "Drinking 101" that contained recipes for alcoholic drinks, while other parents have complained that the youth-oriented company frequently features overtly sexy photos in its advertising layouts.

Abercrombie stock closed up 1.65 percent at $33.30 in New York on Thursday. The company was again the subject of controversy in 2000, playing a central role in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's "Reg FD," or regulation fair disclosure. (full story).

It cooperated with the SEC, after investors sued the retailer over claims it warned a Lazard Freres analyst of disappointing earnings days before the investing public.

Copyright 2002 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

The spokesman stated that "These graphic T-shirts were designed with the sole purpose of adding humor and levity to our fashion line. " ??????

:eek: :eek:

WTH?????????

I can't believe that these shirts actually made it to the stores. Some of the things people buy.:mad: :mad:

I couldn't believe it either! Yesterday, a bunch of reporters made their way to the A&F store at Ala Moana, and they pretty much said the same thing the spokesman said. Still, it wasn't difficult to purchase the clothes in question. How could they think that they'd get away with something like this without protest from the public??? :mad: I really don't see the "humor" and "levity" in that...

I heard about this yesterday...

Myself and a friend were just talking about how sometimes we really think that white folxs generally don't know when they are being offensive...Yeah, but in this instance that cannot be the case! No one is that stupid...:rolleyes:

this is absolutely pathetic. the powers that be, who approved the design and production of the t-shirts need to be reprimanded.

Re: Abercrombie pulls 'racist' Asian theme T-shirts
 

"The thought was that everyone would love them, especially the Asian community. We thought they were cheeky, irreverent and funny and everyone would love them. But that has not been the case."

The Asian community in this house is not amused.:mad: :mad:

i was disgusted when i heard about it.

and the sayings do not even make sense! what was supposed to be "funny" about them?:mad:

Re: Abercrombie pulls 'racist' Asian theme T-shirts
 

I cannot believe that ANYONE would think that this is funny!!!!! What's next? How did they not expect the Asian Community to be upset? I'm upset!!!! This is riducules!!! A&F needs to feel some serious reprecutions for this!!!

They probably knew exactly what they were doing. Abercrombie knows the more controversy they generate the more free publicity they get. I can't believe this is the same company that used to make the flannel shirts your dad wore to hunting camp.

Here is a pic
 

Here is one of those T-shirts

http://www.abercrombie.com/anf/onlin.../2758_01_r.jpg

designers...
 

Okay, when I attend my Klan rallies, I think I could buy a shirt like that... But dayum, I didn't know Abercrombie and Fitch were the kard karrying kind!!!

That is a joke... I'm only joking!!! I have questions on who would make some chit like dat and then sell it to folks??? And the shi(r)ts had better not been "made in China"!!! 'Cuz I'd be even more upset!!! "They" silk screened that crap on there for what reason??? :confused:

As an asian american living in the SF Bay Area, I was very offended. I was watching the news and they reported that although management said they were going to pull all of the shirts from the racks, they were still on sale hours later. At the end of the day, they were all gone, not because they pulled them, but because they sold out!

After all the drama, I can't believe people would still buy these shirts. It makes me sick that people think this kind of thing is funny!

Even I was offended by that and I'm not easily offended...
 

I'm not surprised at all by A+F.

Ironically, as of know I am wearing an A+F shirt.
I checked the tag, it said "made in Macau", which is in or associated with CHINA. SHAME ON THEM!!!

How could you not know that something like that would be offensive? Do you think that Abercrombie would have released a t-shirt that had stereotypical caricatures of black people advertising fried chicken or watermelons? Hell no! If you wouldn't do it to Blacks or Latinos, then why would you do it to Asian Americans.

Sometimes I really think that some people will do something offensive purposely just to see if a minority group will complain. Maybe, the Abercrombie execs thought "I wonder if Asian Americans will complain about this. If so, then we get free publicity. No problem. If not, we sell racist t-shirts. No problem."

By the way, I have never liked A & F's clothes and I will never buy them. If they think that I will pay $100 for some jeans that look like they've been worn for thirty years, they must be downright mad, I tell you, mad!

You may be on to something in your second paragraph. I've read accounts about the perception that Asian Americans are "model minorities" who are less likely to complain than other people of color.
Bullcrap. Bigotry is bigotry and it's unacceptable.

What's more...
 

What's more if various Asian groups within their respective ancestorial countries wanna teach a harsh lesson in sheer economics to ignorant bigots like A+F, if it were me, I would boycott they asses so hard, that they'd havta declare bankruptcy!!!

Just think about it, if half the cotton/acrylic shirts are being made in the Pacific Rim, and some phone calls are made to the appropriate people in those areas, a sanction from, like the People's Republic of China, or various other strong economy based countries like Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore (and on and on) were to embargo against some textiles to the United States...Whoa, it would take several acts of Congress and the Executive Branch to make amends for some buttholes concept of marketing!!! Those idiots would be running around kissin' butt like there ain't no tomorrow and they'd NEVER pull that chit again!!! It's kinna like, put your money where your mouth is...

I'd do it if I had a connection to a country... But that's me.

You know what this reminds me of? When I was little--we're talking early 1960s here--Pillsbury came out with a powdered soft drink called "Funny Face" with flavors like Goofy Grape, Loudmouth Lime, and :eek: Chinese Cherry and Injun Orange:eek: !! Really! On the front were very racist drawings of a smiling Chinese "coolie" face and a leering Native American face. I was only a kid but I was very upset.

Apparently someone else was too because in a few months, they were renamed Choo-choo Cherry and Jolly-olly Orange. What were they THINKING?

And you know, back in that day, they'd probably had some "blackfaced" character, like "Blackberry Pickin' Punch", but MLK with the marches and boycotts were in full swing!!!

On top of that, the US just finished the Korean War and was getting into the Vietnam War. From what I understand, my uncle was a Vietnam Vet, there was a massive American cultural shipments to Saigon. And if Pillsbury was shipping their crap there at that time, it's no wonder "they" quickly changed those names... It woulda given the Communists more fodder to bring down the ugly capitalist Americans--otherwise spelled as: :p

Power to the people, I say!!!

i just didnt like em cuz they overcharge so that some kid can act like he;s cool cuz he paid a shitload for something that he coulda gotten for half the price. The most I spend on clothes is 30 US on my dress pants.

I found it! I finally found a nostalgia website that has the pictures of the original and racist Funny Face drinks! I tried to copy it here but couldn't so if you want to see them, go to http://theimaginaryworld.com/drinksgrid.html


The originals are on the left--note that 2 years later--the picture on the upper right--the names had already been changed.

Blackberry Pickin' Punch? OMG!!! That would be so terrible!!!:eek:

Yep, when I went to high school if you worn A+F it was as sign of class. I didn't worry about paying a sh*tload for the clothes, I just got mom and dad to pay for it. :p

Now, in college it's BeBe's, Express, and Structure. Which is even more a sh*tload of money.
:rolleyes:

)At the expense of *eh um clearing throat* Asian americans.

(was that politically correct or what:D )
I want to see t-shirts of white people on a t-shirt that says,
"You can't get whiter than this." looking like jed clampet
If they are gonna poke fun, they may as well start with their own race.
just remember, *Not all people are ignorant.*

http://asp4soho.com/christmas/killer.jpg

A&F should definately market this shirt. lol :rolleyes:

African Americans and Native Americans (not to mention Asians/Asian Americans) have been subjected to this kind of stereotyping for eons--


http://www.ferris.edu/news/jimcrow/c...e/homepage.htm
http://www.jerrydj.com/Racism/

Thanks AlphaGam for posting these links. They are REALLY informative. I have always though that using Redskins, Braves, or Indians as mascot was so very wrong, especially since I (and quite of few african americans) have a native american heritage as well. I will be joining the petition to get rid of these mascots.

TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!!!

People bought the shirts in order to sell them on ebay... someone told me that the design team asked the token Asian guy in the office if the shirts were "ok" OF COURSE he said SURE in order to keep his job.

Also, someone else told me that they intentionally make their men's clothes larger than average and their women's clothes smaller than normal (so a 10 is more like an 8)... this further ingrains the JACKED UP body images they are feeding to us with their advertising (where all the men are big and "manly" and all the women are tiny and adolecent looking and ALL the people are white).

My friends and I are boycotting Abercrombie. :mad:

Re: Abercrombie pulls 'racist' Asian theme T-shirts
 

It doesn't sound as if the Abercrombie people have a diversified staff, nor regular contact with its Asian customers. Had they hired a representative group of Asians in their design team and had some focus groups with their Asian clientele, they may have been able to avoid this debacle all together. Racial and ethnic sensitivity is always key!

Perhaps Abercrombie and Fitch will learn what other companies have had to learn the hard way: if you want to target a particular part of the market, hire more representatives of that group.

I do not know if anyone waches food unwrapped....but they did a special on nostalgic foods and funny face was one of them. The original displays, toys and drink packets are worth a lot of money today. People are deeping into collecting them.