US fashion retailer Nordstrom is under fire for selling a hoodie depicting the Nanjing Massacre.
The "Happiness" hoodie drew massive outrage from customers online for using imagery from the film City of Life and Death on the back. The film depicts the violent Nanjing Massacre of 1937, in which Japanese soldiers raped and murdered hundreds of thousands of Chinese people during World War II.
The item was removed from sale over the weekend.
The piece of clothing was first brought to attention by a Facebook user who found it offensive:
Outraged customers took to the company's Facebook page shortly afterwards, leaving a flood of angry comments:
“Making money off cold blood war crime. We demand an apology.”
“It was one of the most inhuman event in the history! The Happiness Corporation creating such thing for sale is a big disgrace to our society!”
“As a Chinese, I feel deeply insulted by Norstrom and the designer. Please share and boycott Nordstrom for selling such an outrageous design based on the Rape of Nanjing.”
“WTF.”
“When did Nordstrom hire a Nazi designer?”
“That’s very f**ked up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nordstrom is selling hoodies with horrifying picture of Japanese soldiers killing civilians during the Nanjing Massacre in China from World War 2. Hoodie made by the brand, Happiness.”
“Whoever or whatever brand made this jacket is went too far. This is not fashion. No matter how much I lovedNordstrom, this kind of mistake is not acceptable.”
"Nordstrom, please take down this disgusting cloth."
Nordstrom apologized for the offensive product and removed it from its online store. The hoodie was never for sale in its physical stores.
In response to the outrage, Nordstrom’s public affairs manager Emily Sterken spoke to the Daily Hive about the product:
“We are truly sorry to anyone who was offended. We’re updating our process to look more closely at the type of products we’re offering and ensure we’re being sensitive to how our customers could perceive it.”
Andrea Marcaccini, the designer of the hoodie, defended the imagery, saying it was actually being used to criticize indifference towards war.
Addressing the controversy on his Facebook page, Marcaccini wrote:
“I’d like to apologize with Chinese community if I may have hurt anyone’s feeling with this post. But this picture is actually against war and indifference.”
“No one ever speaks of that event (China massacre) in the Western world. It is not meant to be offensive in any way, on the contrary it’s a protest against the bigoted and narrow-minded people. This is a demur kind of art, not a insult!”
[Images via Daily Hive, People's Daily, Facebook]
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