Urban Outfitters Issues Apology After Selling “Blood-Soaked” Kent State Sweatshirt

Urban Outfitters Issues Apology After Selling “Blood-Soaked” Kent State Sweatshirt

Remember Spanish clothier Zara‘s highly insensitive (okay, profoundly stupid) garment designed for infants that looked nearly identical to the shirts Jews were forced to wear in Nazi concentration camps? Well, looks like Urban Outfitters doesn’t want to be outdone in the “edgy” dumb-as-a-box-of-pet-rocks department. So they came up with this little gem:

Urban Outfitters Sweat Shirt.
Urban Outfitters “Vintage” Kent State Sweatshirt

Apparently, for Urban Outfitters, nothing says Kent State like a “blood-soaked” sweatshirt for their fall collection. Not surprisingly, the outrage from those of us who actually know our tragic history came swiftly.

Tweet 4Though the sweatshirt was quickly pulled from Urban Outfitters’ online store, it was not without a lame attempt by UO to cover their insensitive and/or ignorant behinds, offering this non-apology apology:

“Urban Outfitters sincerely apologizes for any offense our Vintage Kent State Sweatshirt may have caused. 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 item was perceived as such. The one-of-a-kind item was purchased as part of our sun-faded vintage collection. There is no blood on this shirt nor has this item been altered in any way. The red stains are discoloration from the original shade of the shirt and the holes are from natural wear and fray. Again, we deeply regret that this item was perceived negatively and we have removed it immediately from our website to avoid further upset.”

Agreed. Do us all a favor, Urban Outfitters, and just be honest: You’re either completely ignorant of our history, or you’re completely insensitive to it. Or you’re both. But please don’t insult our intelligence and suggest you meant no “offense.” Pull up your big-girl panties, admit you made an elephantine-sized faux pas, because you own this. You’ve succeeded in bringing attention to yourselves. And not in a good way. And, somehow, I suspect many Americans like myself will be choosing to shop elsewhere.

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9 Comments
  • Appalled By The World says:

    That ugly thing sold out? Even if people are ignorant about history it’s just…… ugly. I suppose it would go well with having one’s pants down to their knees-what a wonderful ensemble of poor taste that would make.
    Urban Outfitters-making urban fashion that much more tasteless while treating customers as morons.

    • Jodi Giddings says:

      Yes, now there’s a visual!

      I’m not sure that it sold out, or if that’s just UO desperately trying to save face. I DO know that they’re on EBay…for $500. And that is just shameful, capitalism aside. I also know that I’ll be spending my hard earned dollars elsewhere, and not looking like a complete ass, strolling down the street, with zero knowledge of my country’s history.

  • F.D.R. in Hell says:

    Allegedly, there was only one; not a mass-produced item.
    Ward Churchill was disappointed it was a women’s Medium size.

  • Chris in N.Va. says:

    I can hardly wait for their slightly-stained little blue dress to debut for this coming Fall’s fashion season.

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