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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:
PurpleDen · 22/02/2017 21:48

Honestly some of these comments Hmm

No one gives a shit if you grew up saying 'pig' 'monkey' or 'tiger'. It began as a racist nursery rhyme so it doesn't matter what you change it to. If you didn't know then fine, but it's been explained numerous times on this thread.

Are people not embarrassed to show themselves as being so ignorant?

Willyoujustbequiet · 22/02/2017 21:50

The rhyme isnt racist to me and obviously many others. Its clearly a generational thing.

I'd hazard a guess though these days TWD and their tiger version is by far more well known worldwide than any previous racist version a smaller group recognise it from.

Its almost laughable when people deliberately seek offense where there is none.

gamerchick · 22/02/2017 21:51

I'm sure few people would have a problem with a t-shirt with Negan and so on on it, gamerchick. That's context

Ok I'll give you that one. I prefer detail on my tees.

Maybe primark should have a basic 'I'll shut that shit down no exceptions' with a picture of Lucile instead to appease the masses?

squishysquirmy · 22/02/2017 21:52

I don't understand why some people get so outraged and defensive at others fining something offensive. It's like being professionally offended at offended people, iyswim.

Nothing's been banned - a shop made a stupid misjudgement and stocked a shirt that could be deeply threatening to many people. Customers complained. The shop removed the shirt from sale.
Cue a load of PC-gorn-mad-I'm-not-a-racist-I've-never even-heard-the-N-Word defensiveness.

No-one is accusing TWD fans of being racist, calm down.
Confused

reallyanotherone · 22/02/2017 21:53

I don't watch twd.

But i learned "catch a n*** by his toe as a child. If i saw that t-shirt that's what i would fill in. I would assume anyone wearing it was bnp or similar, and making a racist statement. Especially with the bat too.

For those who've learned "tiger", for my generation it's similar to "rainbow sheep". You know you should say rainbow sheep, but your mind always reaches for "black sheep" first.

limitedperiodonly · 22/02/2017 21:54

It illustrates the problems of a mainstream brand trying to get edgy by employing someone to handle niche things and letting them run with it.

Bit like the Daily Telegraph employing Milo Yiannopolous.

I watch and enjoy TWD. However, I would not wear this shit t shirt (a) because it's shit and (b) because it's distasteful. I would take a dim view of anyone over 14 wearing it.

I bet Jeffrey Dean Morgan wouldn't be seen dead in it.

gamerchick · 22/02/2017 21:55

One customer complained.

Rainbow sheep was generated by the daily mail (?). A myth.

squishysquirmy · 22/02/2017 21:55

"Maybe primark should have a basic 'I'll shut that shit down no exceptions' with a picture of Lucile instead to appease the masses?"

-Yes, that would be much better, because it has no connection to thousands of real life murders and beatings.
I don't give a flying fuck about nice, honest swearing Wink.

Willyoujustbequiet · 22/02/2017 21:56

Purple

You are on dodgy ground accusing others of ignorance whilst stating it began as a racist nursery rhyme.

No it didn't. Check out the origins. It far predates that so the racist version is simply another version along with tiger, monkey etc...

People in glass houses

ArchNotImpudent · 22/02/2017 21:58

You'd have to have been living under a rock not to know TWD and Negan said tiger anyway.

What? I'd never even heard of TWD till this news story. Is it actually on terrestrial TV? Not everyone has Sky/Virgin/Netflix et al.

It astounds me how often people assume others will share exactly the same frame of cultural reference.

sibys1 · 22/02/2017 21:58

"Maybe primark should have a basic 'I'll shut that shit down no exceptions' with a picture of Lucile instead to appease the masses?"

I wouldn't have had the slightest issue with that shirt. Probably would have assumed it to be a reference I don't get, or a shit shirt.

gamerchick · 22/02/2017 21:58

There is a tee that says that Wink then Glenn gets it Sad

Sukitakeitoff · 22/02/2017 21:59

I've never see TWD so would assume this t-shirt had a deliberately racist and violent message. I think they were right to stop selling it.

sibys1 · 22/02/2017 22:02

Willyoujustbequiet

Yes the rhyme has non-racist origins but most people aren't aware of the origins off-hand.

But I'd wager most people above the age of 40 grew up with the racist version. It was the first version I heard when growing up (I'm 31). The rhyme has been sanitised again over the past couple of decades but, as can be seen from this thread, many people originally knew the popular, racist version, or have become aware of it. A lot of those people, myself included, haven't seen TWD.

IsMyUserNameRubbish · 22/02/2017 22:04

Suki, you shouldn't judge then if you haven't seen it, how stupid is that comment?! TWD is as far from "racist" as you could possibly get.

Mynestisfullofempty · 22/02/2017 22:04

What? I'd never even heard of TWD till this news story.

I hadn't heard of it until this thread.

mrsstewpot · 22/02/2017 22:06

Seriously shocked at the ignorance or more so, avoidance here.
It IS a racist rhyme. It is a rhyme with lynching connotations. Whatever word was used when you were child does not change its origins.
I'm shocked that it was even allowed in the TV programme itself.
And yes, even the phrase used on the t-shirt alone is racist.

Shockers · 22/02/2017 22:09

Suki is judging on what she sees, which is fair enough. I would be a bit Shock if I saw that t-shirt without knowing the story behind it. This is why it wasn't a particularly good idea to produce it, and will be why it has been taken off sale.

SemiNormal · 22/02/2017 22:09

What? I'd never even heard of TWD till this news story.

I hadn't heard of it until this thread.

Another here who had never heard of it. Confused

HelenaGWells · 22/02/2017 22:11

I didn't even know there was a racist version of that rhyme.

IsMyUserNameRubbish · 22/02/2017 22:16

The only error of judgement TWD made, was not to think like a racist, why should they when they've got everyone else doing it for them? they probably just seen it as an innocent rhyme, unlike the person that complained, who thought why not stir up a bit of racial tension for their 15 minutes of fame, and it worked. Anyone who hasn't seen it, watch an episode of TWD, you won't find any racism though.

SolomanDaisy · 22/02/2017 22:23

You obviously missed TWD's 'black men problem' controversy.

limitedperiodonly · 22/02/2017 22:26

FFS! I like TWD. But the image of a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire and dripping with blood printed on a t shirt with Eeny Meenie is disturbing and alarming enough without the added idea that someone who's not familiar with a niche programme on a paid-for channel might think it referred to lynch mobs against black people.

This isn't a civil liberties issue. It was a big fucking mistake by Primark and they have had the good sense to withdraw it.

northernmonkey1010 · 22/02/2017 22:27

Lighten up

RufusTheSpartacusReindeer · 22/02/2017 22:41

Agree with limited