H&M: “Coolest monkey in the jungle”
Early 2018, the clothing retailer H&M was widely criticized for an image of an African American child modelling in a sweatshirt that said “coolest monkey in the jungle.” Consumers deemed the H&M campaign racist and inconsiderate for its reference to an animal often used in racial insults.
H&M removed the image and issued a public apology. “We sincerely apologize for offending people with this image of a printed hooded top,” an H&M spokesperson said. “We believe in diversity and inclusion in all that we do and will be reviewing all our internal policies accordingly to avoid any future issues.”
It’s always nice to see big corporations “stick their foot in it”, reminding us that they’re Human, too. Some people think that corporations are gods, these stupidities expose their humanity and takes the corporate ego down a notch. Stay tuned, there WILL be more.
That McDonalds ad was not at all objectionable. In brief for those who haven’t seen it, a boy (maybe 10 or 11 years old) is asking his mom about his dead father. He is not bereaved, he does not even remember his father who died long ago. His mom points out a number of things in describing him. Each time, the thing about the dad is different than the son. (Sharp dresser, shiny shoes, good at sport, all the girls were attracted to him… while the boy notices his shirt untucked, his sneakers dirty, he kicks a soccer ball and flubs it, and some girls passing by only give him a look of disgust). But when they get to McD and he opens his fish sandwich box, his mom says ‘that was your dad’s favorite too’. For the first time he hears something he has in common with his late dad.
Not a thing in the world wrong with that and the people who spend all their time looking for reasons to be offended should get a life. Nobody was using bereavement to sell sandwiches.