Forever 21, you just can’t seem to stay out of trouble, can you? Whether it’s ripping off other designers or selling tees maybe condoning rape, the controversy is endless. Now, according to Buzzfeed, Forever 21 has upset consumers again.
This time, people are accusing Forever 21 of selling shirts replete with Nazi symbols. While the T-shirt didn’t contain Nazi swastikas, patrons pointed out the “88,” which is white supremacist code for “Heil Hitler.” Additionally, the repeated lightning bolt was an icon for Nazi SS agents.
Here’s the shirt in question:
“Forever 21 takes feedback and product concerns very seriously,” a spokesperson for Forever 21 told Buzzfeed. “With regards to the T-shirt in question, upon receiving feedback from our customers, we took immediate action to have the product removed from our website. We sincerely apologize to anyone who was offended by the product.”
Who knows what creative process went into this T-shirt? It could have been an accident, but Forever 21 is not providing an alternate reason for the appearance of the double 8.
When launching an apparel product, it’s important to have a process in place where multiple people can vet it. That way, you can avoid a PR nightmare like this one.
