H&M continues to face backlash even as the hoodie many slammed as racist is removed from stores. The company featured an ad with a young Black boy in a top reading, “Coolest Monkey In the Jungle” and as stars sound off, the company has launched an investigation.
“We understand that many people are upset about the image,” H&M said in a statement to NBC News. “We who work at H&M can only agree. We are deeply sorry that the picture was taken, and we also regret the actual print.
“It is obvious that our routines have not been followed properly,” it continued. We will thoroughly investigate why this happened to prevent this type of mistake from happening again.”
Regardless, stars like Snoop Dogg, The Weeknd and Angela Rye have hit back.
Snoop posted a more uplifting take on the offending image with the caption, “The way I see it.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bds33vTD9v-/?taken-by=snoopdogg
“Starboy” singer The Weeknd, who has released a collection with the retailer in the past, announced he wouldn’t collaborate with them again.
woke up this morning shocked and embarrassed by this photo. i’m deeply offended and will not be working with @hm anymore… pic.twitter.com/P3023iYzAb
— The Weeknd (@theweeknd) January 8, 2018
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Sean “Diddy” Combs, whose stage name is now, Love, demanded that respect is put on the young boy’s name.
Put some respect on it!! When you look at us make sure you see royalty and super natural God sent glory!! Anything else is disrespectful. pic.twitter.com/QVaxgngwh1
— Diddy (@Diddy) January 8, 2018
CNN commentator Angela Rye declared she still won’t shop at H&M even though the merch had been pulled.
“I see a Young King!!” Cleveland Cavaliers forward James wrote of his take on the photo. “The ruler of the world, an untouchable Force that can never be denied! We as African Americans will always have to break barriers, prove people wrong and work even harder to prove we belong. But guess what? That’s what we love because the benefits at the end of the road are so beautiful!!”
Manchester United football player Romelu Lukaku echoed sentiments of the young boy being a king.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bdtc4AWHim0/
And comedian actress Niecy Nash added to that notion, saying H&M “got this one wrong.”
