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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:
Thread gallery
10
ToffeeUp · 09/01/2018 15:49

To quote Gilead again

By not calling out the racists and ' by not allowing them to win', you deny the prejudice. That is racist in itself

Rosewatersoap · 09/01/2018 15:50

we shoudnt even be registering it .... said the white person.

FaceOddity if you rtft you'll notice that most posters have said that the ad as such was probably (hopefully) not intended to be racist but that the producers of the campaign were incredibly ignorant to the principles of global PR and communication design and therefore did not do their job well.

As said upthread, their stakeholders will not be best pleased as this ad is costing them actual money. So heads will roll.

Seeingadistance · 09/01/2018 15:53

it's staggering a company like h&m didn't see the issue, actually, because they didn't see the issue surley it isn't racist as racism is intentionally doing something against a certain race?

It is my experience that, almost always, those who can't see the problem are the problem.

This always, without exception, applies to those who still can't see the problem even when it is clearly explained to them.

FaceOddity · 09/01/2018 15:53

No one is trying to deny any prejudice, there'll always be racist twats on this earth unfortunately.

ClaryFray · 09/01/2018 15:54

Ffs...

It's a top. Monkeys are cute.

Head desk!

Stop the planet I wanna get off!

FaceOddity · 09/01/2018 15:56

Well if heads will roll as a consequence of this advert and the advert has already been pulled (poor kid 🙁) then surely all the people who claimed it to be racist should be happy with that result?

Bimbler · 09/01/2018 15:59

Stop the planet I wanna get off!

Off you pop.

Ghanagirl · 09/01/2018 16:02

I’m late to post as working today but it’s definitely an issue for Black people.
I’m 2nd generation carribean and grew up in Home Counties in the 90’s and remember being called a monkey at my all white School, (before someone comes on feigning ignorance it definitely wasn’t in jest)
Fast forward to London at present time I’ve been called an “ugly monkey” whilst with small toddlers in car by a lot of Eastern European drivers if I don’t pull out fast enough and other things they find irritating such as not getting kids into car quickly enough at petrol station etc.
I’m sure others will defend this behaviour but it’s definitely racist slur as I’m sure white women with children don’t get called “ugly monkeys”, and for the record I’m actually a very pretty dark skinned black women with beautiful black children...

Bimbler · 09/01/2018 16:05

I'm sorry that was and continues to be your experience Ghanagirl. There is no defending that.

Rosewatersoap · 09/01/2018 16:05

Racism and ignorance are intrinsically linked as sadly confirmed by this thread.

Ghanagirl · 09/01/2018 16:06

Just to add my primary school aged daughter was called a monkey by a white boy of Eastern European heratige last year and her teacher took it very seriously

BertrandRussell · 09/01/2018 16:08

“Stop the planet I wanna get off!”

Shall I hold your coat for you?

BertrandRussell · 09/01/2018 16:09

Who was it called Michelle Obama an “ape in heels?”

ClaryFray · 09/01/2018 16:09

People use girl in a derogatory way. "Don't be such a girl"

I was called a milky bar at school cause I'm white, do I have a problem the milky bar kid is portrayed as white. No.

I think some people look for things to get offended about. It's obvious that H&M weren't trying to be racist. My son has tips with pictures of monkeys on, saying the same.

I think we have to use some common sense and think of the intention. Cute kid, monkey top, awww he must be cheeky.

But no people want to be offended.

Rosewatersoap · 09/01/2018 16:10

Ghana that's horrible but may I ask why you feel the need to mention the racists' Eastern European heritage in particular?

Ghanagirl · 09/01/2018 16:10

BornInSydneyy
Lucky you to not have to deal with racist slurs from angry 6ft men whilst you’re a tiny 5’3 8stone women out with your innocent toddlers

Bobbydeniro69 · 09/01/2018 16:11

Unbelievable stupidity for this to have happened, as someone has commented above, how many people must have seen this at the original shoot and through the production of the marketing material?.

How can you look at a black child in a jumper that says ' coolest monkey in the jungle' and not see how it is incredibly offensive?

To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if people have been sacked over this, as you have to be really shit at your advertising or marketing job to let this happen.

Rosewatersoap · 09/01/2018 16:11

ClaryFray What's being cheeky got to do with anything? The slogan is not referring to cheeky monkeys.

Babybauble · 09/01/2018 16:12

I’m sure others will defend this behaviour but it’s definitely racist

Why on earth would anybody defend that?! It's absolutely shocking. I honestly feel what H&M did was ignorant and insensitive, as it triggers victims of racism, but I don't feel it was intended to be racist.

RicottaPancakes · 09/01/2018 16:13

it's staggering a company like h&m didn't see the issue, actually, because they didn't see the issue surley it isn't racist as racism is intentionally doing something against a certain race?

H&M is not a British company. Perhaps they didn't see the issue because it's not offensive to them?

Ghanagirl · 09/01/2018 16:13

Rosewatersoap
Okay so racist is allowed to call me (plus beautiful children) a ugly monkey but I can’t mention their heritage, white privilege at its finest

Gilead · 09/01/2018 16:14

Stop the planet I wanna get off! So did my daughter, every time some idiot called her a monkey at school.

My point, is that by making a thread about this, whipping this up into a frenzy and bringing it to everyone's attention with a great big "LOOK EVERYBODY! Isn't this racist" sign all over it, has actually had the effect of offending more people of colour (politically correct term? Hope so!) than the image would have done to begin with.... Surely?
Bollocks. The only sensible answer to this. Why won't you see what happens to other people on a daily basis? Is there a reason you won't help us?

those that snigger at this or put a mocking behind it will be the ones that are racist.we shoudnt even be registering it
Read the history. Read Becles links about what happens currently and then tell the rest of us we're racist.
Not registering it supports racists. Every single time. It happens. Daily.

noeffingidea · 09/01/2018 16:14

It's racially insensitive. Of course monkeys are lovely creatures (who doesn't love watching monkey world?) , but the fact is that racists use it in a demeaning manner. They use it to imply that black people are less evolved and sub human compared to white people.
FFS, how can anyone not be aware of this? Do they go round with their eyes and ears shut or something?

MaisyPops · 09/01/2018 16:15

I honestly feel what H&M did was ignorant and insensitive, as it triggers victims of racism, but I don't feel it was intended to be racist.
And yet trying to point this out isn't good enough. It's not enough to say 'actually it probably wasn't the best decision it's a shame that we aren't at a place where a top about a child being a monkey can be worj by any model'. It has to be outrage and anyone who won't say H&M are obviously racist must also be racist themselves

Bimbler · 09/01/2018 16:17

I was called a milky bar at school cause I'm white, do I have a problem the milky bar kid is portrayed as white. No.

Stop the world, I want you to get off.