Last chance to save on Digiday Publishing Summit passes is February 9
Forever 21 is discovering that one of its alleged humorous shirts is anything but funny.
The fast fashion chain is stoking outrage over a men’s T-shirt that stupidly makes fun of rape. “Don’t say maybe if you want to say no,” the shirt reads. Forever 21 is selling the shirt in stores and, at one point, sold it online.
In a statement to Digiday, Forever 21 said it “strives to exemplify the highest ethical standards and takes feedback and product concerns very seriously.” With that, it pulled the T-shirt from its website today and said it “sincerely apologizes to anyone who was offended by the product.”
Still, it apparently took Forever 21 at least several weeks before it took action, as seen by pictures people posted of the shirt in stores:
GOTTA LOVE THAT RAPE CULTURE AT @Forever21
I’M ASHAMED FOR YOUR COMPANY pic.twitter.com/m1zP138Nr7— liam @ FAREWELL (@tf2chainz) February 12, 2016
@Forever21 how about we not perpetuate rape culture with your $19.99 shirt “don’t say maybe if you want to say no” why is this a good idea??
— Elle Wal (@LWald13) March 14, 2016
Who signed off on this shirt?! https://t.co/gz7Te2KAiL
— AnnaMaria Di Pietro (@AnnaMariaDP) March 14, 2016
Forever 21 isn’t new to controversy. Last month, its shoppers lashed the brand for its plus-size Instagram account with models that didn’t appear to fit the larger size.
More in Marketing
What Amazon’s proposed big-box store could mean for Walmart
Public documents published by the Village of Orland Park described a 225,000-square-foot Amazon store that would sell a range of products.
Future of Marketing Briefing: AI companies are staffing up for a reputation fight
AI has an image problem, which explains why the industry is suddenly investing so much energy in who gets to tell its story.
Albertsons is putting digital screens for ads in more than a third of its stores
The retail giant has seen enough success in its digital screen network to begin a rollout in 800 of its 2,200-plus stores in 2026.