Summary: An Urban Outfitters “vintage” Kent State University sweatshirt that appeared to be covered in blood caused outrage across the country. The item has since been pulled from Urban Outfitters’ website.
Everyone knows that Kent State University in Ohio was the site of an anti-war protest that left four dead. On May 4, 1970, four students were killed and nine other people were injured when the National Guard fired on those protesting the Vietnam War. BuzzFeed News reports that Urban Outfitters, a popular clothing store, recently had for sale a sweatshirt that has the Kent State logo on the front. The problem is that the sweatshirt also has what appear to be splatters of blood all over it.
However, the store apparently thought the item would be highly coveted. It was priced at $129, with a caption on its website reading, “Washed soft and perfectly broken in, this vintage Kent State sweatshirt is cut in a loose, slouchy fit. Excellent vintage condition. We only have one, so get it or regret it!”
Urban Outfitters is the only one with regrets now. The sweatshirt has been pulled from the website after consumers slammed the company on Twitter for appearing so insensitive. Even Kent State University issued a statement, angrily announcing, “We take great offense to a company using our pain for their publicity and profit. This item is beyond poor taste and trivializes a loss of life that still hurts the Kent State community today.”
Urban Outfitters quickly issued an apology for “any offense” that was caused by the sweatshirt. The clothing store said that the sweatshirt had not been “altered in any way,” and that the stains were due to “discoloration” and the holes were caused by “natural wear and fray.”
In addition, the company tweeted, “It was never our intention to allude to the tragic events that took place at Kent State in 1970 and we are extremely saddened that this was perceived as such.”
Hopefully, Urban Outfitters will think about its designs a little more carefully next time.
Photo credit: USAToday.com