Claim: Urban Outfitters offered an item appearing to be a bloodstained Kent State sweatshirt for sale.
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TRUE |
Example: [Collected via Twitter, September 2014]
Origins: In September 2014 images of a Kent State sweatshirt sold by retailer Urban Outfitters went viral, due to an incredibly offensive aspect of the garment. Its faded and salmon-hued fabric bore not only the Kent State logo but also what appeared to be a blood-spatter pattern, one that might not immediately read as offensive to younger generations:
On 4 May 1970, four unarmed Kent State students were shot and killed (and several others injured) by National Guard troops during a campus protest over the Vietnam War. The deaths sparked national outrage and were a galvanizing moment in American history, prompting even more widespread student protests in response.
While the events at Kent State more than 40 years ago may not be fresh in the minds of the demographic normally associated with Urban Outfitters, lingering cultural reverberations of the incident are a common reference point in music, film, and literature.
The situation surrounding Urban Outfitters' Kent State sweatshirt tipped on social media early on 15 September 2014, and the negative response snowballed into the morning hours.
In response to the rapid and intense outcry, Kent State University issued a statement publicly responding to Urban Outfitters and addressing the overall controversy:
Urban Outfitters posted a statement in response to the brouhaha on its official Twitter feed, denying that the blood-spatter effect on the shirt was intentional and claiming that the pattern was a result of natural wear and discoloration:
While Urban Outfitters may have apologized for the controversy, comments responding to that tweet suggest that shoppers have not reacted positively to the retailer's explanation:
@swin24 “we are extremely saddened that this item was perceived as such†… @UrbanOutfitters basically said #sorrynotsorry
— Justin Jones (@justandyjones) September 15, 2014
Last updated: 15 September 2014