Urban Outfitters ‘Holocaust Tee’ Draws Outrage
- Posted on April 20, 2012 at 5:20pm by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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Image source: urbanoutfitters.com
Clothing retailer Urban Outfitters is again facing controversy, this time over a T-shirt featuring a six-pointed star pocket patch that bears resemblance to the yellow Stars of David Jews were made to wear during the Holocaust, some on concentration camp uniforms.
The patch on the “Kellogg Tee” is blue and set against a yellow background. It’s made by the Denmark-based Wood Wood company and selling for $100.
The Anti-Defamation League in Philadelphia was the first to publicly object to the shirt, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported:
“We find this use of symbolism to be extremely distasteful and offensive, and we are outraged that your company would make this product available to your customers,” Barry Morrison, regional director of the ADL, wrote in a letter e-mailed to Richard A. Hayne, chairman and chief executive of the retail corporation headquartered at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. ADL shared the letter with the media.
Image source: urbanoutfitters.com
The T-shirt was still availableon Urban Outfitters’ website as of Friday afternoon. One commenter noted “the fact it reads I’m a Jew in Poland in the 1940s.”
The retailer did not immediately comment on the matter.
Urban Outfitters is currently being sued by the Navajo Nation over its tribe-inspired fashion line. It also came under fire earlier this month for stocking “Obey Clothing,” which features anti-Christian and anti-capitalist themes.
(h/t Gawker)
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Comments (124)
Lloyd Drako
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 6:51pmDoes it matter that it’s blue, like on the Israeli flag, not yellow, like in the Warsaw Ghetto?
Report Post »hidden_lion
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 7:18pmWho would pay $100 for a t-shirt?
Report Post »Kerstile
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 9:32pm@Hidden, EXACTLY the ONLY thought I had. Hey, I am one of those crazy libertarians that fully supports Israel (unlike many of my colleagues that do not). Everybody is offended today. It is NOT the star that the NAZI’s forced the Jews to wear. It is NOT the Star of David. It’s a stupid patch on a stupid tee that is waaaaaayyyyyyyyy overpriced.
I am sick, sick, sick of “I’m offended”. Scrue the offended. Get on with your life and only be offended at things really offensive, like Nancy Grace.
Urban Outfitters sure is getting a lot of free advertising lately. Their marketing campaign is working. Congratulations to their ad team. Good job! (note: I make a good buck and no way ever I will spend a Ben on a stupid tee shirt.) So, how’re sales?
Report Post »bobtail88
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 9:45pmThey have every right to sale them, And I have every right to call the people who pay $100 for a stupid T-shirt Dumba$$!
Report Post »paperpushermj
Posted on April 21, 2012 at 12:13amHIDDEN_LION
Report Post »Posted on April 20, 2012 at 7:18pm
.
Who would pay $100 for a t-shirt?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
.
. Come on!……. It Has a pocket!
lukerw
Posted on April 21, 2012 at 8:52amI can feel sorrow for a Losing Side… and I can identify with a Winning Side.. but I do not get those who Identify with being Losers!
Report Post »twistin
Posted on April 21, 2012 at 10:27amThe T-shirt is YELLOW, that’s the joke.
These people suck beyond belief.
Send these T-shirts to the furnaces.
Report Post »G-WHIZ
Posted on April 21, 2012 at 10:57amHave you heard that here, in our country, you still can [not-buy] an item if you don’t like it. Oh, that’s right! You don’t know how to read bills and constitutions and things. One word, for you..lemmings. Oh that‘s right you won’t look it up either…You just listen to hear-say and use the free opinnion given to you w/o-question. Can you say”left in the dustbin of history…which then you will erase?”
Report Post »Niferno
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 6:26pmAre they gonna sell Holocaust Cloaks too?
Report Post »Spokane Armory
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 6:43pmNext comes the holocaust hoodie.
Report Post »LIBERALSAREMORONS
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 6:44pmOnly to the Dread Pirate Roberts.
Report Post »VastRightWingConspirator
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 7:41pmDread Pirate Roberts, I love it!
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 7:52pmActually it probably will be a Trayvon Martin hoodie for $200.
Report Post »Brasil2520
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 6:22pmThis is a great story is say, Happy Birthday Day Adolf !
Report Post »savewhitepeople
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 6:21pmWhy does the media promote anti-white stereotypes endangering white lives? Is it anti-white?
In the end diversity means homogeneity. Once all are blended together there are no more blue eyes and blond hair.
Report Post »Is that really what white people want? To embrace their own genocide and betray their children and their white neighbors.
Stop the madness and the white genocide.
The policy of genocide is: massive forced integration into white countries only, forced integration, coerced and socially engineered tolerance and assimilation. Given a few generations more and we have extinction of the white race. Its a genocide program. 95% of society composed of conformists. Whoever controls the culture controls behavior. Individual behavior just conformity to social norms imposed on white society today. Genocide about group destruction by alien elements.
btwin89
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 9:03pmhmmm… wonder how much media matter pays you too say crap like that…
Report Post »waspanglosaxon
Posted on April 21, 2012 at 3:16amTo Savewhitepeople: You’ve told nothing but the absolute truth. The great wonder is why the majority of Whites have not yet awakened to this. Let us hope so before it’s too late.
Report Post »savewhitepeople
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 6:20pmHolocaust?
Why does the media promote anti-white stereotypes endangering white lives? Is it anti-white?
In the end DIVERSITY means homogeneity. Once all are blended together there are no more blue eyes and blond hair.
Report Post »Is that really what white people want? To embrace their own genocide and betray their children and their white neighbors.
Stop the madness and the white genocide.
The policy of genocide is: massive forced integration into white countries only, forced integration, coerced and socially engineered tolerance and assimilation. Given a few generations more and we have extinction of the white race. Its a genocide program. 95% of society composed of conformists. Whoever controls the culture controls behavior. Individual behavior just conformity to social norms imposed on white society today. Genocide about group destruction by alien elements.
btwin89
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 9:00pm^^ Troll ^^
Report Post »thinknotrepeat
Posted on April 21, 2012 at 12:20amwell jewws were solely responsible for overhauling our immigration quotas in 1965 which at the time allowed 95% immigration from european countries and only 5% from latin america africa and the middle east. they changed it to “ no policy”. not something fx news will tell you but just google it. same thing in europe, that is why there is a anti jeww backlash right now, jewws feel more secure when the society is not homogenius because a unified society of common values and faiths has always found the courage to stop them when they act as a collective to further jewwish interests at the expense of their host country, do you think aipac would exist? or we would have to watch our presidential candidates embarrass our great nation by falling all over themselves proving their loyalty to israel? if we were the same country we were in 1950 a unified homogenius christian nation jewws wouldnt dare attempt their treasonous actions, do you think the adl would be able to ban school prayer,or christmas carols in schools,or manger scenes? never they would find mobs of americans in the streets demanding the alien group be dealt with.
Report Post »disenlightened
Posted on April 21, 2012 at 10:07amNo one’s taking your jew-hate bait, monkey boys.
Report Post »RightUnite
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 6:13pmWho the heck shops there anyway???
Report Post »Thecoolhandluke
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 6:35pmNo kidding…the fact that the shirt costs $100 is almost as offensive as the message it sends. You can practically buy a custom tailored dress shirt for that price.
Report Post »Beckett
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 6:01pm$100 for a T-shirt??
Report Post »RightUnite
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 6:13pmOnly at Urban Outfitters would someone be stupid enough to spend a 100.00 bucks on a friggin T-shirt! Go figure.
Report Post »savewhitepeople
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 6:19pmI guess if you are anti-semitic you’ve really got to pay for it.
Report Post »Want our country back
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 6:21pmAgreed, no need to say more
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 6:33pmSome artists can only sell art by being shocking. It appears a clothing retailer can only sell clothes by being shocking.
I say let them stay in business. Just mock whoever buys their clothes. They will go out of business soon enough.
Report Post »Jenny Lind
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 6:42pmNo way, I’m happy with any 100% cotton t-shirt fromWalMart, JCpenny’s etc. If it’s more than twelve dollars, it’s not going home with me. Fools and their money are soon parted-my mom’s wisdom. I will say though, the shirt that caused so much controversy for Mitt Romney at 135.00 (I think) has worn like iron so it was a good buy.
Report Post »ArcticDodge
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 7:54pmNO kidding!! ANY T-shirt that costs $100 is obscene not matter what is on it!
Report Post »shotzie
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 11:34pmExactly. Anyone who is stupid enough to pay $100 for a t-shirt is not going to have enough sense to understand why this t-shirt is offensive.
Report Post »dazedandamazed
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 5:12pmOnly if it has 90.00 in the pocket.
Report Post »aChameleon
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 5:58pmOnly a lib-nazi would pay $100 for this anti-semetism.
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 6:31pmAKA Paulbots http://www.alternet.org/news/153551/ron_paul_and_libertarianism's_dirty_secret_–_pandering_to_racist_%22rednecks%22_to_get_ahead
Report Post »disenlightened
Posted on April 21, 2012 at 10:09amHow much of Urban Outfitters’ profit goes to fund Palestinian terrorists killing Israeli women and children? Or to those orphan/widow funds for the families of dead suicide bombers?
Report Post »Jinglebob
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 5:54pmIf this Tee shirt had been marketed as a support item for Israel (Jews) with most of the proceeds going to needed Jewish causes and approved by the same, it might have been successful. As it is, it’s a disgrace and anyone wearing it should be marked as the same.
Report Post »ChadFelixG
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 5:54pm1) its a Star of David and I own a Yarmulke with that exact design on it and a Chanukah Menorah as well. Its abstract and Nazis didnt put much thought into their design. Unless the t-shirt title is “Holocaust T” I dont see why everyone is crying.
2) PLEASE JEWS we are not the NACCP. Just because its currently cool to scream in outrage over every imaginary slight does not mean we need to do it too. It ruins credibility when actual anti-semetic stuff happens.
3) Why do we feel the need to screech about a store selling something we find offensive? There is an easy solution…don’t shop there. Just because it offends you does not mean they should stop doing it.
4) $100 is absurd for a t-shirt.
Report Post »VastRightWingConspirator
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 7:47pmIt’s called normalizing, Chad. They continue to do all these little things to offend the Jewish population, and, when no one stops them they eventually build on it because no one cares. And, one day, you wake up to real atrocities. Stand up now, and stop this insanity. The Nazis didn’t start off by throwing people in ovens, they ended there.
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 7:57pmI guess it is okay to be insensitive as long as you are making a buck or two or a hundred off of it. Right?
I just can’t why a group is willing to piss off 70% of religious groups to keep 20% of the masses entertained? Poor marketing if you ask me.
Report Post »Buttercup
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 8:23pmChad, it is NOT okay! Get that? You really need to do some research on the drip-by-drip dehumanization of Jews down through the centuries that ultimately culminated in the Holocaust. It’s your type of attitude — why get so excited, it’s just a tee shirt — that can open the door to horrendous results.It’s a slippery slope that starts with indifference.
When good people stand by and say nothing, we enable evil to happen. It’s NOT ok!
Report Post »conservativedoc
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 9:06pm@vastrightwingconspirator. You hit the nail on the head. Well said!
Report Post »changedone
Posted on April 21, 2012 at 4:01amI think Urban Outfitters should revise their “two girls kissing” thusly: reshoot the picture, but this time, use Middle Eastern models and have them wear hijabs while they’re kissing. Then you’ll hear some screeching!
Report Post »Ramv36
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 10:43amChad, the time to stand against tyranny in any form is in it’s ABSENCE. If you wait until tyranny has arrived, it’s already too late to oppose. It’s like cancer: would you rather fight cancer, or prevent getting it in the first place?
Report Post »OperationNorthwoods
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 5:53pmMy Grandma went to Auschwitz and all she got me was this stupid t-shirt.
Report Post »SeekerofTruth
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 6:12pmThat’s cold… funny, but cold.
Report Post »trueamerican40
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 5:49pmAll that cheap-azz shirt needs to make it complete now is black-white stripes. And where is the 6-digit number—oh that’s a tattoo, nevermind.
Report Post »creepshow
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 6:04pmThe number of knee-jerk idiot comments on the Blaze is beginning to rival the Huffington Post.
Report Post »If you think this shirt is somehow a “holocaust” tee shirt, you’re a du*ba** – plain and simple. The symbol on the shirt is not the Star of David. It’s a yellow shirt with a six-point geometric design that may resemble the Star of David, but it ain’t the Star of David.
The only crime Urban Outfitters is committing here is charging $100 for a tee that won’t last any longer and looks no better than a $5 special at Kmart.
disenlightened
Posted on April 21, 2012 at 10:13am@CREEPSHOW
Report Post »…right, and Islam is a religion of peace. Run, Bo, run.
creepshow
Posted on April 21, 2012 at 11:40pmDISENLIGHTENED-
Report Post »Do the world a favor and commit suicide.
LetsBeSmartAboutThis
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 5:45pmUrban Outfitters = Media Whore.
They love to surprise and shock us. But that gets tiresome after a while.
Report Post »4dogsandagun
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 5:45pmJews in the US should start to get their heads out of their preverbal backsides and wake up to the fact that this administration and their czars encourage such things and unless they use the voting booth to get these liberal progressive marxists/communists out of government history will repeat itself. The writing is on the wall, and no one is paying attention.
Report Post »LSUtiga21
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 5:39pmUmmm, what the hell is “urban” about any of the models in the above pictures? They look like malnourished emo potheads still living in their parents house after coming home from college with a bachelor’s degree in Gender Studies.
Report Post »VastRightWingConspirator
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 7:49pmOut here in the country we would consider that pasty boy urban.
Report Post »SchoeneTante
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 4:06pmJust what I was thinking. For a model, this guy looks gaunt, and the shirt is way too big for him. It hangs loose and looks wrinkled and sickly on him. What sort of marketing genius was behind this photo shoot?
Report Post »barber2
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 5:39pmThe shirt should say : I Am An Idiot Who Paid $100 For This Cheap Looking Tee Shirt
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 5:38pmThis group is straight from hell, and apparently well on their way home.
Report Post »AllAmericanGirl22
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 5:38pmUrban Outfitters is finished, I never shopped there and I never will. The evil liberal things they sell are disgusting.
Report Post »mr166
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 5:38pmThis looks like just the thing to wear to your next OWS protest.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 5:36pmNot only is it disgusting .. $100 for a t-shirt . … Do they charge for the bodies they are standing on? I hope they go out of business ..soon .. if anyone deserves to .. it is this disgusting company.
Report Post »tzion
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 5:34pmThis is from DENMARK. As in the country that collectively evacuated almost all of their Jews to Sweden? I’m having a hard time seeing this as antisemitism. If I’m remembering my history, this is the country where when the Nazis ordered the Jews to where the star the entire country started wearing them. Perhaps that’s what this is meant to symbolize. At least that‘s what I’d like to believe.
Report Post »CAmom
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 5:51pmThat story is a myth. As is, I’m afraid, your ascribing honorable intentions to this hideous Antisemitism.
Report Post »tzion
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 6:49pmI realize that. Wishful thinking I suppose. But given UO reputation recently you’re probably right.
Report Post »The Gooch
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 5:33pm$100.00? You’re a damn fool if you pay $100.00 for a T-shirt regardless of what other controversy surrounds it.
Report Post »Well, now I know where rich, smug turds shop. Whoopee.
scuba13
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 6:24pmWhat else goes with a 200.00 pair of Air Jordans?
Report Post »The Gooch
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 9:26pmI’d suggest a good swat up side the head.
Report Post »lamarwilly
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 5:31pmWho in this World (or in their right mind) would spend 100 dollars for a pocket t-shirt.
Report Post »Spokane Armory
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 5:30pmFirst of all, $100 for a t-shirt? Second, it doesn’t get much more offensive than that.
Report Post »Welcome Black Carter
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 6:01pmMoochelle wore $550 tennis shoes to a soup kitchen. I can see her wearing this. T-shirts and big butts don’t go so well, but I can see it.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 2:00amWELCOME BLACK CARTER, Maybe Hillary will wear this T to the next group photo shoot where she shows up in the wrong color again.
Report Post »eddw2112
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 5:23pmScary at best.. Signs of things to come? I really hope this company will reconsider this. Until then, no buying from them. WOW…
Report Post »CatB
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 5:37pm$100 for a t-shirt .. .. who in their right mind would pay that? … remember I said right mind.
Report Post »The_Almighty_Creestof
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 5:40pmI seem to remember being taken to task here for pointing out the same outrageous prices for Beck’s 1761 clothing line.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 5:47pmGlenns t-shirts are $30 and MADE IN THE USA.
Report Post »spirited
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 6:15pm@CATB
Made in the USA: That’s why they cost $30.oo
>….and worth it !
Report Post »CatB
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 6:36pm@SPIRITED
Yes .. I gladly pay more when I can find something MADE IN THE USA .. .including these ..I can highly recommend .. they are made near me .. and the new water bottles are wonderful!
http://www.tervis.com/info/anatomy-of-a-tervis
Report Post »Lloyd Drako
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 6:55pmAlmighty: it’s 1791, not 1761. I have often wondered why Beck evidently celebrates the Bill of Rights more than the original Constitution.
Report Post »45Sentinel
Posted on April 20, 2012 at 9:45pmShirt is still on the site. They know and really don’t care. If the product was anti-gay or pro-conservative it would be gone. Wait it never would have made the cut at UO. Their company sucks and not making money, they‘re trying to reach out to rich kids who have time and daddy’s money to shop.
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