We're living in a strange world now, in which social media and the internet is such a powerful means to communicate (and sell products) that brands are hopping on the bandwagon in a big way. Sometimes this results in surprisingly hilarious responses from the
Wendy's Twitter account, but at other times people really just drop the ball.
This extends to the products that various online retailers are selling, too. You might think that it would be pretty difficult to offend people with clothing, but somehow companies allow things to fly completely over their head. While public relations is undoubtedly a part of retailers' structure, they still manage to majorly mess up on occasion.
Just the other day, one particular H&M hoody
caused an uproar across the world for something that was
deemed racist by many critics. Recently dropping a new kids line, the company released one garment which read "coolest money in the jungle", modeled by a young black child. Regardless of your thoughts on the issue, it was a major oversight for the company, with many wondering how they let this slip them by.
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Now it seems like a new controversy is brewing that might take some of the heat off H&M's ill-advised hoody. A new choker released by online retailer ASOS has taken its name a little too literally. The product appears to be incredibly long and fastened with a buckle. That's right - it's pretty much just a belt tied around someone's neck.
This image, combined with the fact that its named 'Hanger Latex Flame Choker', with the model wearing a t-shirt that reads 'Hanger' has caused an uproar as you would expect. One Twitter user wrote: "first thought, hideous item. Then I noticed brand name on T-shirt. Now it's also an insensitive and vile item. I'm not usually easily offended but this is awful."
Frankly, it looks ridiculous in the first place. But when you take into account the associations they are drawing with this item, it becomes even worse. The controversy started on a Mumsnet thread (as many do), where many of the users were angry at the product.
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"I don't know if offensive is the right word, but I do think it's an awful piece of clothing, suggestive and inappropriate," one user wrote. Another said: "Hanger???? What the actual f**k?? It's horrendous! I'm getting onto them now! Even her pose is suspect."
"That's disgusting. Without the name and the word 'Hanger' on her t-shirt," said another "it could have been playing on the choker necklace fashion. But calling it that is foul, and who would want to buy that??"
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On the other side of things, ASOS was actually praised this week for an ad campaign featuring disabled blogger and model Mama Cax, which was seen as a quietly progressive addition to their catalog, diversifying their line-up. Unfortunately, it seems like any goodwill from that may be canceled out by the hanger choker.
