H&M Posts Ad Featuring Black Child Wearing “Coolest Monkey In The Jungle” Hoodie

January 8, 2018

Photo by Karol Serewis/Gallo Images Poland/Getty Images

The latest major racially insensitive Marketing error to take the internet by storm comes from H&M. The major fashion retailer posted a photo of a black boy wearing a “coolest monkey in the jungle” hoodie.

According to The Root, following backlash on social media over the weekend, the Stockholm-based clothing giant issued a pithy, lukewarm apology Monday morning for pairing a black child with a known racial slur.

“This image has now been removed from all H&M channels and we apologize to anyone this may have offended,” the retailer told the Daily News.

Damn man smh wth is wrong with people. I’m confused because I know on this set of shooting this ad there had to be a few browns/blacks present and nobody was courageous enough or woke enough to speak up and say something? Y’all just let this young brother pose for #HM like that?

A post shared by Kysses (@kysses89) on Jan 8, 2018 at 12:16pm PST

Celebrities are upset too. Singer The Weekend posted to his Instagram that he will no longer be working with the brand because of this!

#Salute @theweeknd , 🙌🏽🙌🏽 This is the only way they’ll see , when blacks remove there business from @hm , stop shopping there. This is a disgrace! I’m sure they have a Public Relations and Marketing teams. This shit was done on purpose. Wowwwww on so many levels , his is historically the most easiest time ever! Lawddd. ———————————————————– ——————————————————–#iwantthismore #King #royalty #Nike #UnderArmour #strong #health #JrRiskTakers #youthfitness #miami #healthyliving #gymrat #fitness #hustle #wegrind #northmiamifitness #healthyeating #stayfit305 #WhiteAmeriKKKa #kidsfitness #fitnessjourney #blacklivesmatter #HM #racismlives #youtuber #racism

A post shared by RiskTakerFit 💪 JrRiskTakers (@risktakerfitness) on Jan 8, 2018 at 12:15pm PST

Meanwhile, a few creative people on the internet have “remixed” the photo to show the boy as a king.

We got you young KING….. It seems to be a case as usual of….Is this blatant disrespect and utter disregard ,simply ignorance or pure maliciousness ….#wtf #hm #youngking #wiseup #dowaybetter

A post shared by Available For bookings (@djgreyld) on Jan 8, 2018 at 12:12pm PST

@hm – It’s not hard. If you want my money, respect those that look like my family. . . . And if you need a lesson in how it’s done @derri27 and @mrchrisclassic can show you. #smgdh #hm #blackrepresentationmatters #blackmarketingprofessionalsexist #hireblackmarketingprofessionals

A post shared by @ chicfemmenoire on Jan 8, 2018 at 12:08pm PST

TELL US: What do you think of the H&M photo?

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