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Original poster

Primark forced to remove racist t-shirt from sale

296 replies

Soubriquet · 22/02/2017 17:38

link

I don't watch the walking dead. So this reference would have gone straight over my head.

But again I'm the generation who sang catch a tiger by its toe so wouldn't have immediately gotten the racist connection either.

But once it was pointed out, I got it and agree it should definitely be removed

What were they thinking making this?

OP posts:
Willyoujustbequiet · 23/02/2017 14:40

Agreed Gunny

The origin of the rhyme is far far older than the racist version and no doubt the racist version is less well known, increasingly so these days. Talk about an over reaction.

Plunkette · 23/02/2017 15:00

pigflewpast I think that's exactly right. Surely once someone makes you aware of the connotations you adjust your thinking accordingly?

So for example there was a scandal about a photoshopped picture Ellen Degeneres posted of her riding on Usain Bolt.

At first I couldn't see particularly why it was being called "racist" but after five minutes research I discovered photos showing historical pictures of black slaves carrying their white masters on their backs in a very similar fashion.

At which point I could absolutely understand why the picture had (no doubt unintentional) racist overtones.

Similarly the "breaking point" campaign picture of Nigel Farage next to a picture of a group of refugees was heavily criticised as it had very similar imagery to a historic piece of Nazi propaganda.

I don't know whether Farage's imagery was deliberate but you can see why it upset people.

Fair enough to be unaware of the original issue but surely you adjust your view once you have additional information?

Primark obviously did as they withdrew the shirts!

Dawndonnaagain · 23/02/2017 15:18

The origin of the rhyme is far far older than the racist version and no doubt the racist version is less well known, increasingly so these days. Talk about an over reaction.
It was used as a racist rhyme. The age is not relevant. Many people still associate it as a racist rhyme. Which bit don't you get, or do you just think that those of us experiencing racism should just shut up?

Talk about an under reaction.

twofingerstoEverything · 23/02/2017 15:39

Gunny As PP have pointed out the rhyme is centuries old and has changed with time. Maybe people who know the racist version could let it die out and not kick up a stink when they see something like this this.

Ooh, I know... let's do swastika t-shirts. After all, there's nothing wrong with them because the origin of the swastika was Sanskrit and in many parts of the world it's still used as a sacred symbol. Maybe people should get over themselves and let the nazi version die out and not kick up a stink, eh?

Hmm
twofingerstoEverything · 23/02/2017 15:45

I think the worlds gone politically correct nuts. Its like we have to pussyfoot around sensitive clowns so they don't get offended. The tshirt isn't racist it Was a line From the show. Breathing will be illegal next

OMG yes... all those politically correct people going around and trying to stop people breathing. What a great comparison.

Dreamgal · 23/02/2017 16:18

I just googled the t-shirt and find it hard to believe that Primark could be so naive. Surely it's obvious those t-shirts were going to upset a portion of their customer base.

sibys1 · 23/02/2017 16:38

Sorry to invoke Godwin's law, but the obvious comparison here is the swastika.

Yes, prior to the Nazis, it was a peaceful symbol used by various religious groups but to most westerners today, it carries obvious racist connotations, regardless of th symbol's long history.

Same with "Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Mo"; yes the oldest versions weren't racist, by the racist version was the popular one in the US by the later 1800s and became popularized in the UK in the 1930s. There aren't going to be many people around today who grew up at a time before the racist version became popular.

Back to the swastika; it's a symbol that is still worn by some religious groups today (although for obvious reasons, generally not prominently in the West). If there as a TV show with a Buddhist character who wore the swastika, that might not be overtly racist and you could probably wear a t-shirt, bearing the swastika and referencing that show, in certain contexts (like it you happened to be in a country where Buddhism is prominent). However, even if you were unaware of the association with Naziism, and even if you just wanted to reference a Buddhist character from a TV show, you would be pretty naive to think that wearing a t-shirt with a swastika on it wasn't going to be offensive to a lot of people if worn in Europe.

sibys1 · 23/02/2017 16:38

Haha, damn, got beaten to it with the swastika.

NotStoppedAllDay · 23/02/2017 16:47

Op, why do you say Primark were forced to remove it from sale? Where did you get that from.....

Anasnake · 23/02/2017 17:14

Zara already tried the swastika back in 2007 Shock news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7002765.stm

Original poster
Soubriquet · 23/02/2017 17:15

The headline

OP posts:
Pigflewpast · 23/02/2017 17:37

Amazed by how many people who can't believe some people have never watched TWD have obviously themselves not watched that well known programme "the news" which extensively covered Jeremy Clarksons' use of the racist rhyme they're all saying they'd never heard of.

Willyoujustbequiet · 23/02/2017 17:41

Comparing an age old rhyme with lots of different versions, one of which is on a tshirt which refers to a tv programme about zombies and for many people has no racist connotation whatsoever with Nazis is ridiculous.

Grasping.

RufusTheSpartacusReindeer · 23/02/2017 17:53

My husband does not watch the news or read the papers pig

He relies on me for unbiased information Grin

SlowSwimmingMom · 23/02/2017 17:57

Someone commented the TWD had been criticized for racism in its plots.. Can someone point out how ? I think every black character they have had has been fantastic, esp Michonne - what a woman ! Can someone clarify as I would genuinely like to know this please.

BreatheDeep · 23/02/2017 17:58

"and for many people has no racist connotation whatsoever"

So you are acknowledging there are racial connotations for some people then? Just because some people are not aware it's racist doesn't mean it's not.

gamerchick · 23/02/2017 18:10

Well Jeffrey had an opinion on it all

ew.com/tv/2017/02/23/walking-dead-negan-t-shirt-controversy/

Plunkette · 23/02/2017 18:28

Oh well if an actor says it's fine that's ok then...

Hmm
gamerchick · 23/02/2017 18:39

Meh gives the frothers something to froth about.. Advertising for primark to boot.

Dawndonnaagain · 23/02/2017 18:42

Meh gives the frothers something to froth about..
All concerns regarding racism dismissed in one sentence. Angry

heron98 · 23/02/2017 18:47

There are so many horrible racist, sexist, cruel things happening in the world.

This isn't one of them.

I really think people ought to reserve their outrage for the real ones and not waste their breath on pointless trivia like this.

And I am black.

limitedperiodonly · 23/02/2017 19:41

I really think people ought to reserve their outrage for the real ones and not waste their breath on pointless trivia like this.

I often think that when people burn poppies. Why give them the attention of frothing about it?

And my dad served in WWII.

To be fair, millions of others also did, but I thought that if we were chucking irrelevant facts about, I might as well put that one on the table.

Plunkette · 23/02/2017 20:01

Does it have to be "outrage" Heron?

Can it not just be a considered view that this tshirt was ill-conceived?

I'm not "frothing". I just Primark was right to reconsider.

sibys1 · 23/02/2017 20:41

One person complained about the shirt, it seems Primark looked at the shirt and thought 'ah, we see where they're coming from' and took the decision to remove it.

The 'outrage' seems to largely be on behalf of those people who think Primark were wrong to remove it.