(PCM) Once again clothing retailer Urban Outfitters has found themselves in a bit of hot water when people discovered that they were selling what appeared to be a bloody “vintage” Kent University sweatshirt on their website.
After an outpouring of backlash the company has now taken down the product and apologize to anyone it may have offended. They are claiming that it was a simple misunderstanding and it was never their intention to allude to the tragic events that occurred at Kent State University in 1970.
Urban Outfitters went on to say that they are saddened that the item was perceived as that and that it was a one-of-kind item that was part of their sun-faded vintage collection. They claim that the faded pink color and red spots that resembled blood was just part of the dying process. They claim that there is no blood on the shirt nor had the item been altered in anyway.
A spokesperson for the company said that the item will not be sold and that the company’s public relations department has been in touch with Kent State. The item has since been removed from the website.
Kent State had the following comments about the incident: 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 the publicity and profit. This item is beyond poor taste and trivializes a loss of life that still hurts the Kent State community today.”
Personally, we are not buying Urban Outfitters insincere apology and definitely feel they were trying to make money and headlines off of the tragedy that took place. Anyone with half a brain at the company would have been able to look at that item before it was posted and realize it was probably not a good idea.
We want to hear from you. Was Urban Outfitters apology sincere and was it only an honest mistake?