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‘Merry Christmas B***hes’: Urban Outfitters Under Fire for F-bombs & Expletives in ‘Offensive’ Holiday Catalogue

Dec. 11, 2012 8:42am Billy Hallowell

Editor’s Note: This story contains expletives.

Urban Outfitters is known for its sometimes edgy, offensive and far-left messaging. The clothing company is no stranger to controversy, with various designs, emblems and other related marketing materials regularly creating a stir. Now, rather than seeking to simply instill cheer, Urban Outfitters’ new holiday catalogue is purportedly looking to spark angst, as the company is selling and touting numerous items with expletives on them.

Urban Outfitters Under Fire for F bombs & Expletives in Holiday Catalogue

Photo Credit: Fox News/Urban Outfitters

According to KYPost.com, a new sales catalogue features a memory book with the words “Let’s F**king Reminisce” on it, a holiday mug that reads, “Merry B**ches” and a candle which also has the f-word on it. Naturally, considering the fact that young people regularly shop at the retailer, some parents are taking note and railing against these designs.

And these aren’t the only curious items. Fox News notes that there’s an $18 flask present on the company’s web site that reads, “That s**t cray,” BYOB gummi bears and a “stick ‘em up iPhone stand” (complete with a tiny, plastic gun as an accessory). There’s also a “Merry Christmas B**ches” banner, available for those looking to spice up their holiday parties.

Monica Cole, director of the American Family Association’s One Million Moms division, notes that this tactic of selling controversial materials is par for the course for Urban Outfitters — the company that owns numerous brands and chains, including Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Free People, Terrain, and BHLDN.

Photo Credit: Urban Outfitters

“This really isn’t anything new for them,” she told Fox. “Their catalog has offensive profanities on products and little knickknacks, T-shirts — you name it. And so many teenagers shop there.”

The controversial catalogue is just now making its way into peoples’ mailboxes, thus sparking discussion and debate surrounding the products presented within it. But while conservative groups and parents may be up in arms, marketing expert John Tantillo believes that the controversy actually helps Urban Outfitters and the businesses that fall under its umbrella.

Photo Credit: Urban Outfitters

“College students really don’t care about using salty language and it’s great publicity to those who object to it,” Tantillo claims. “So, it’s perfect, and if they wanted to discontinue the items they could, but it got guys like me to talk about it – so it’s very smart.”

In the past, Urban Outfitters has come under fire for pro-President Obama t-shirts, a clothing design that appeared to include the Star of David, lesbian imagery in ads, anti-Christian and anti-capitalist messaging and Navajo-inspired clothing. These, of course, are only a few of the never-ending controversies. The new holiday catalogue simple adds to the mix.

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Comments (43)

barryd
Posted on December 12, 2012 at 9:53pm
Typical advertisement for that type of people. Dont see why anyone is surprised. That is how they are

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Sharon Rose
Posted on December 12, 2012 at 12:51pm
They don’t need to think I will be shopping with them, evil , pure evil people.

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TEARS FOR AMERICA
Posted on December 11, 2012 at 7:18pm
Trashoutfitters…I wouldn’t have given them a penny of my money before this article…

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AnimalsAsLeaders
Posted on December 11, 2012 at 5:40pm
It’s bizarre how many comments there are along the lines of “IS THIS WHAT OUR COUNTRY HAS COME TO??? THIS IS THE DECLINE OF SOCIETY MANIFESTED!!!!!” Our country had slaves… Women weren’t able to vote until the 1920′s… Police officers used to team up with KKK members to cover up lynchings for decades… and yet people take THIS as a sign that our country has “lost it’s way”???

To me, a flask is more offensive than the swear words on it…

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- RobbieTLHughie
  Posted on December 12, 2012 at 8:47am
  Lol the people on this site need get their priorities straight. Funny tee shirts are the problem and swearing! Not murdering innocent civilians or anything like that. If they hadn’t said Merry Christmas it would still be offensive to them, they are just looking to be offended, that’s all. We all live cushy, comfortable lives where you have time to give a crap and whine about the kind of computer someone uses of the sort of clothes they wear.
  
  Also, what does the blaze have against urban outfitters? I’ve never seen so many stories about then anywhere. I started buying my clothes from them since I saw them here, lots of good sale there. But there are many other offensive shirt companies why not report on them? Is this a personal vendetta?
  
  Report this comment
- smash44
  Posted on December 12, 2012 at 12:24pm
  Another black racist still hung up on slavery and the Democratic KKK that lynched hundreds of blacks in the South. Keep voting Democratic you ignorant sub-******. The love people like you. Black, stupid, and totally dependent on the taxpayer.
  
  Report this comment
- AnimalsAsLeaders
  Posted on December 12, 2012 at 11:02pm
  @SMASH
  What are you talking about??? I’m a white male in my late 20′s. I have a job, I’ve never taken government benefits. I’ve never voted for a Democrat in my life. Where do you people come from??? Is this a joke?
  
  Report this comment
jungle J
Posted on December 11, 2012 at 1:16pm
only the sane will understand how this is harmful to the civilized.

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RANGER1965
Posted on December 11, 2012 at 11:41am
MARKETING…Marketing…marketing.

The American Family Association goes after JC Penny for their Ellen ads, and they might actually make a dent in JC Pennys bottom line. So if they’re lucky they might get JC Penny to get rid of Ellen.

If they go after Urban Outfitters precisely the opposite will happen. If parents hate it, then kids think it’s cooler. Plus it get Urban Outfitters free advertising.

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- gbmpython
  Posted on December 11, 2012 at 8:05pm
  Agree…..very true.
  
  Report this comment
TheBurningTruth
Posted on December 11, 2012 at 11:40am
Looks more like Urban JUNGLE Outfitters to me.

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BannedByHuffpo
Posted on December 11, 2012 at 11:11am
Wow! My Christmas shopping’s done and I didn’t spend a dime at Urban Outfitters. Come to think of it, I’ve never bought anything from them and probably never will.

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- G-WHIZ
  Posted on December 11, 2012 at 11:48am
  These are the reasons I VOTE/BUY WITH MY FEET!! I go to the places who love this country. Outfitters is communistic and even if they sold stuff made HERE-only, I would never buy from them!
  
  Report this comment
AvengerK
Posted on December 11, 2012 at 10:50am
Have we all forgotten what it’s like to be a teenager? The more you complain and carry on about this store and it’s items, the more appealing it is to a teenager.
See the caption “Don’t waste your money”? That’s all that needs to be said.
The solution is simple..if your teenager or college-age child works and earns money for themselves..let them buy it it’s their money. Let them waste their money.
If they get an allowance from you, you make it clear to them….if you waste your money on that garbage, the allowance gets reduced..your choice junior. Granted…most teenagers would just make sure mum and dad dont’ see the item in question..but they can’t keep it hidden forever.
But the more outraged you appear, the more appealing the item becomes to a teenager.

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- pbrenda51
  Posted on December 11, 2012 at 11:02am
  I disagree……if I had a teenager at home, I would not allow that garbage in my home, paid for by their money or mine…..when our kids brought home a CD one time of a rapper (don’t remember name) that I didn’t like the language and message of, I threw the items out………told them if they tried again to bring garbage into our home, I would throw it out again and waste their money time and again……never heard or saw that crap again
  
  Report this comment
- DougHuffman
  Posted on December 11, 2012 at 11:13am
  My grandmotherly barber told me of her unmarried DiL’s 9 y.o. daughter, that has come to live with g’ma, trying to go to school (1 -12 under one roof, 65 kids) dressed a la UO. G’ma said that she would cut up those clothes.
  
  Good people ought to be armed as they will, with wits and Guns and the Truth. God Bless Bitter Clingers, damn progs.
  
  Report this comment
- AvengerK
  Posted on December 11, 2012 at 11:41am
  PBRENDA..and that attitude of yours is what makes the products of this store all the more appealign to a teenager.
  
  Look at the PMRC led by Tipper Gore in the 1980′s. They wanted labelling put on CD’s and videos warning parents of the content in them. Yes..in typical liberal fashion..”one size fits all” legislation.
  
  What happened to the record sales of the CD’s with that label on them? They boomed for the acts that the warnings appeared on. It had the opposite effect of what Tipper Gore was trying to accomplish. The teenagers wanted the products even more than before.
  
  Report this comment
- AnimalsAsLeaders
  Posted on December 11, 2012 at 6:01pm
  Well, when I was a teenager, we certainly never had curse words on our flasks…
  
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Marcia
Posted on December 11, 2012 at 10:13am
This is where we are going. This is nothing more than further greasing the road to dehumanization and a Godless society. The contrast between good and evil is more prevalent today than ever.

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- AnimalsAsLeaders
  Posted on December 11, 2012 at 9:10pm
  More so than when we had slaves and women couldn’t vote? Do you honestly think our society is, overall, worse off today than 100 years ago? Ask a black woman that.
  
  Report this comment
South Philly Boy
Posted on December 11, 2012 at 10:04am
NEVER shopped with them and NEVER WILL

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rumorct
Posted on December 11, 2012 at 9:59am
At least we know this time before Christmas, and presents, giftcards haven’t been bought! Don’t buy from these brands and pass it on…………….There are so many other shops, that are not gross that sell to this demographic that will be happy to take their business

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SPIN_MD
Posted on December 11, 2012 at 9:57am
We all know which “culture” from where this comes. Thanks MLK! That “civil rights manifesto” plan is really working out. You are destroying this country from the grave.

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- DZ-015
  Posted on December 11, 2012 at 10:22am
  Blaming Martin Luther King for today’s urban culture is like blaming John F. Kennedy for the antics of today’s Democrat politicians. Neither would recognize or approve of either.
  
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- SPIN_MD
  Posted on December 11, 2012 at 6:01pm
  Well, DZ, I had a great post with specific information that you probably didn’t know but the resident “Herr Goebbels” of the Blaze wouldn’t let it be posted. Too bad, you may have actually learned something of merit. The “truth” has no agenda…wink wink nudge nudge.
  
  Report this comment
Warphead
Posted on December 11, 2012 at 9:40am
Remember when Red Fox, Richard Prior & so many other comedians of that era started incorporating the endless streams of vulgarity & profanity into their comedy routines? Remember how the TV shows became more and more risque, violent and vulgar? Remember that?. Remember how you were shocked on one hand but laughed and laughed on the other? Remember how you thought it was so great that you couldn’t wait for the next 8 track or cassette to come out so you could buy it, or catch next weeks raunchy episode? Remember how your parents thought it was disgusting and you thought they were square? Well, every giggle, every snicker, every laugh and every dollar helped to bring this vile, disgusting evil child into the world. Now look what your little bastard baby has grown into. Like myself, there were many who saw this breach in morality for what it was. We fought it and we fought and now we concede the battle to our enemies. We have but one consolation in our defeat. That is that we know what happens next. We fought to keep it from happening but now it is unstoppable. Our society will degrade at an accelerated rate. Collapse is eminent. When the dying is over, when man begins to rebuild there will be no place for the corrupt thinking that lead us to our downfall. That comes later. After we rebuild some one, somewhere will “come out” for something that has for so long been banished. He will succeed. One word, spoken by many will start it all over again. That word will be “Tolerance

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- jims3rdwife
  Posted on December 11, 2012 at 2:15pm
  check out communist goals numbers 24, 25 and 26
  24.. eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them ‘censorship’ and a violation of free speech and free press.
  25. break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and tv.
  26 present homosexuality , degeneracy and promiscuity as normal, natural, healthy – I’ve said it before, and I intend to keep on saying it… EVERYONE NEEDS TO CHECK THIS LINK OUT — PRINT IT, KEEP IT WITH YOU, AND EVERYTIME YOU SEE SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU WONDER WHAT THE HECK WE ARE COMING TO, I GUARANTEE THAT YOU WILL FIND THE ANSWER ON THIS LIST OF 45 GOALS.. NOT BAD FOR SOMETHING THAT IS MORE THAN 50 YEAR OLD.. http://www.uhuh.com/nwo/communism/comgoals.htm
  
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- SoNick
  Posted on December 11, 2012 at 4:48pm
  @jims3rdwife
  do you know that quoting Cleon Skousen carries as much weight as quoting The Protocols of the Elders of Zion?
  
  Report this comment
perry1980
Posted on December 11, 2012 at 9:36am
Disgusting!

This is what our youth and future has come to.

The moral decay of this country is un-stoppable until the under 30 crowd Wakes Up

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sizzlinsexybeckster
Posted on December 11, 2012 at 9:36am
This isn’t smart advertising – it’s stupid. I’m tired of slang being used everywhere, misspelled words trying to be “cool”… reminds me of the movie “Idiocracy”… dumb people who can’t spell, can’t read, and can’t write or even find their ********. Oh, did you know that in 3rd grade they are not “writing” anymore? – No – No more writing, they use iPads, electronical crap so nothing is permanent on paper to bring home to Mommy so the parents don’t really know what their kids are being exposed to, and of course, there is no more writing. Stop with the rude swear words, stop with the misspelled ebonics and slang crap. No, you are not smart, this is not giving your store “points” for future sales. Your brains have been put through a blender with vomit and doggy doo. You need to shut down your “lovely” stores. Nobody with even half a brain will shop there. Again, you are not cool.

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Exidor
Posted on December 11, 2012 at 9:28am
Sign of the times. I see more and more commercials with sexual overtones. Everything from chocolate to Drano.

It’s about all the general moron public can understand these days.

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- DougHuffman
  Posted on December 11, 2012 at 9:33am
  Ho ho ho, Draino as birth control for sodomites? “Book’em, Draino!”
  
  Good people ought to be armed as they will, with wits and Guns and the Truth. God Bless Bitter Clingers, damn progressives.
  
  Report this comment
Warphead
Posted on December 11, 2012 at 9:17am
The people that would think this is OK and buy from these type of companies are only increasing in numbers. They appeal to and promote their products to those who are regressing socially. Anarchy, societal breakdown, war, famine, disease and death is right around the next bend. Like mathematics, no matter where you are, what you are, who you are 2+2 will always equal 4 and 4-1=3. And so it is with society. The addition and or subtraction of structure, honor, religion and morality in different combinations always equal a predictable sum. The mathematical equation laid out before us today has no other outcome for it is as certain as 2+2=4.

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- ArmedAndReallyPissed
  Posted on December 11, 2012 at 9:42am
  Right now i’m rooting for another equation………12-21-2012 to = a new beginning.
  
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ArmedAndReallyPissed
Posted on December 11, 2012 at 9:11am
Just another exapmle of Parents not knowing what their Kids are doing. If this Toilet ( Business ) is successful, which it must be to stay open ( unless the CLOTUS is bailing it out also ) that means youth are buying it’s products and Parents aren’t paying attention. Of course in the kind of World we live in today, maybe it’s the Parents who are doing the buying.

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hauschild
Posted on December 11, 2012 at 9:05am
How else would you expect these people to reach their bottom-feeding, target market???

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- scuba13
  Posted on December 11, 2012 at 11:40am
  They could except food stamps, maybe that would work.
  
  Report this comment
ares338
Posted on December 11, 2012 at 9:05am
Why give these minor mental midgets any coverage at all? Ignore…ignore…ignore

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DougHuffman
Posted on December 11, 2012 at 8:50am
“Urban Outfitters”, what’s that? Oh, they pander to a peculiar share of the market, they’re marketeers to the dumb un-skeptical. SCROOM Good people ought to be armed as they will, with wits and Guns and the Truth. God Bless Bitter Clingers, damn progressives.

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USPATRIOT101
Posted on December 11, 2012 at 8:49am
The celebration of a dumbed down America. “Enjoy folks”.

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SocialistSlayer
Posted on December 11, 2012 at 8:45am
You know these companies do this to get free advertisement from idiot media outlets and now The Blaze has fallen for their trap. You can bet at some point Walmart will be announcing price cuts for the Holidays that will make big news just like they do every year !

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- DougHuffman
  Posted on December 11, 2012 at 8:54am
  Great Wall of China Mart’s freebie PR this year is their bailing on Obamascare as more expensive than the US$2K per ‘associate’ penalty. Merry Christmas goonion goons. SCROOM
  
  Good people ought to be armed as they will, with wits and Guns and the Truth. God Bless Bitter Clingers, damn progressives.
  
  Report this comment
- Zipit
  Posted on December 11, 2012 at 9:02am
  Doug! Dude!!! Enough with the, “Good people ought to be armed as they will, with wits and Guns and the Truth. God Bless Bitter Clingers, damn progressives.” Please!!! We got it already!!!!!
  
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