H&M comes under fire for 'racist' online image

By

Marion Deslandes

Translated by
Benjamin Fitzgerald

Published
Jan 9, 2018

H&M felt the disgust of internet users on Monday for an online image, accused of racist connotations. The problem? A hooded sweatshirt with a logo that read 'Coolest monkey in the jungle', which was worn by a black child. 

On January 8, the Swedish retailer apologised and retracted the corresponding image from its British online store. By then, however, a number of social media users had already expressed their anger about the post, deeming it racist. 

London blogger and influence Stephanie Yeboah was the first person to retweet the picture on her Twitter account on January 7, which ended up being shared more than 15,000 times. 

This latest controversy is similar to the recent criticisms faced by the Dove brand on social media for racism. In 2014, Zara came under fire for marketing pyjamas reminiscent of the outfits worn by Jewish deportees during the Second World War.