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Original poster

Would you consider this racist? H&M advert

999 replies

BornInSydneyy · 08/01/2018 21:12

A young black boy wearing a jumper that says -

“Coolest monkey in the jungle”

I genuinely can’t understand how anyone thought that was acceptable.

OP posts:
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Original poster
BornInSydneyy · 08/01/2018 21:12

(Sorry if topic has already been posted about)

OP posts:
VileyRose · 08/01/2018 21:14

No. I don't think so. It would be worse if they implied the kid couldn't wear it.

Kursk · 08/01/2018 21:15

Can’t say I have seen the ad. Personally I probably wouldn’t have put 2&2 together.

RavingRoo · 08/01/2018 21:15

Yes but then I am not white and have been called a monkey by racists.

MarthaArthur · 08/01/2018 21:15

No... its not racist thats a common thing to call children in this country. Unless the advert stated black children cant wear it then no its not.

Sandsnake · 08/01/2018 21:16

Racist if anyone told him he couldn't wear it, otherwise absolutely not. Kids like monkeys.

NorthernLurker · 08/01/2018 21:16

Yup it's totally unacceptable.

Chocolate50 · 08/01/2018 21:18

It is racist.

OP posts:
NewYearNewMe18 · 08/01/2018 21:19

No, because there are two models one black one white, each wearing a different colour sweat shirt with the same logo. You need to look at the who advert in context.

Monkey = affectionate term for cheeky/naughty (good natured) mischievous

IMightMentionGriddlebone · 08/01/2018 21:19

I haven't seen the ad, but that's a bit shocking.

Surely it can't be deliberate? Just ignorance?

ForalltheSaints · 08/01/2018 21:20

Kelvin Mackenzie probably would have thought it Ok after his column on Ross Barkley, but most other people would not.

usedtogotomars · 08/01/2018 21:20

I don’t think it is racist, but it is unwise because it is likely to elicit ‘oh ha ha, black child, monkey, snigger’ comments.

OlennasWimple · 08/01/2018 21:20

I don't think it's racist, but it's staggering that in 2017/18 no-one in the marketing department considered that it could be taken that way

NapQueen · 08/01/2018 21:21

It would never have crossed my mind that the term monkey had anything to do with being black.

And I would assume at his age a parent or chaperone would have to be present for all shots so if they didnt think it was racist then why would i?

BrownLiverSpot · 08/01/2018 21:22

I would have thought it's just what little kids are called: 'little monkeys'. regardless of colour of their skin.

motherfiver · 08/01/2018 21:22

The racism issue is people like you are still seeing a connection.
Cheeky monkey and little monkey etc are common phrases for children clothes, children whatever their colour can where these clothing.
My mixed race DS loved monkeys when he was little, he had 100s of toy monkeys, had them on his clothes, on his walls etc. To me he was a little boy who loved the animals and family and friends suggesting I shouldn't let him bring that toy or where that top because he's black made me furious.

It's not racist for a little boy to where a top with a monkey on but it is racist for you to suggest a little boy shouldn't because of the colour of his skin

cheesypastatonight · 08/01/2018 21:24

Agree with Motherfiver....you are the racist

jaseyraex · 08/01/2018 21:24

It wouldn't have even crossed my mind that it was racist. I seen it earlier and had to read the article to understand why people were deeming it racist. People call kids little monkeys/cheeky monkeys etc regardless of their skin colour.

Original poster
BornInSydneyy · 08/01/2018 21:25

And I would assume at his age a parent or chaperone would have to be present for all shots so if they didnt think it was racist then why would i?

Some parents wouldn’t care. Sorry to sound cynical but I’m sure some parents wouldn’t give a crap what their child was modelling if it meant giving their potential career a boost.

There’s also millions of child models. You come across as “difficult” for refusing a wear something (for whatever reason) then it’s bye, next!

OP posts:
AdoraBell · 08/01/2018 21:25

Haven’t seen it but if MathaArthur is right then it isn’t racist.

feral · 08/01/2018 21:25

I'd never have seen this as racist until it was pointed out to me. Feels more racist to make a thing of it tbh.

Lostflipflop · 08/01/2018 21:27

Absolutely agree with motherfiver

Vonklump · 08/01/2018 21:27

If they've got the advert running with two children as mentioned upthread then no.
Otherwise it has been very badly thought out.

As another point, you don't see many/any girls clothes with Little Monkey on them.

McTufty · 08/01/2018 21:28

I don’t think it’s intentionally racist but I think it’s inappropriate and could understand if a black person found it offensive.