Forever 21’s marketing team thought it was a good idea to put a guy from Welkinda in a “Wakanda Forever” sweater.
Not only did they let the blonde, blue-eyed guy model the sweater, but F21 promoted the item by posting the picture on its Twitter page. As TMZ notes, this wasn’t just a simple Photoshop snafu: the listing outlines the model’s stats, including his height and what size sweater he’s wearing.
The retail chain was rightfully dragged for disrespecting our Black utopia.
@Forever21 really got the palest person they could find to model a Wakanda Forever sweater. I'm crying. https://t.co/0ycedJ2eI6
— Izuku Marcdoriya (@Lyracet90) December 18, 2018
Hey @Forever21, In What Universe Did You Think It Was Ok To Feature A White Model In Wakanda Gear? Granted, Chances Are You Knew It Wasn't Ok, But Still. As A Former #21Men Brand Specialist For The Company, I'm Highly Offended.
— Mark-Paul (@WhoIsMarkPaul) December 18, 2018
They got a super pale, blond, blue-eyed model in a Wakanda Forever sweater… ????????????
I wanna speak to your advertising department, @Forever21. Someone approved this and thought this was going to work. ???? https://t.co/aWefYUeBfY
— Britain (@sanefacade) December 18, 2018
Screenshots are forever. @Forever21 .
Y'all really put a COLONIZER in a Wakanda shirt. pic.twitter.com/pnM7BY06yI
— This page cannot be reached. △⃒⃘ (@Unaamorcita) December 18, 2018
Not even Wakanda can escape gentrification. @blavity
@blackpanther @urbanintellectuals @forever21
#forever21
pic.twitter.com/XBwJyyUCk2— Jesuorobo's Thoughts (@Jesuorobo) December 18, 2018
.@forever21 wakanda forever! pic.twitter.com/sb1QU2Ks7C
— Andy Downing (@andydowning33) December 18, 2018
@Forever21 how come no one on ur creative time thought about the decision process regarding the wakanda sweater? & why did your production team even feel the need to make this item? Has the situation with @hm taught you nothing? Do better!
— B. R. E. ???????? (@BreeLWest) December 18, 2018
The tweet was predictably deleted, according to Yahoo Lifestyle.
If you attempt to click on a listing for the shirt on the company’s website, you are redirected to the homepage.
In an email sent to Blavity, Forever 21 apologized to those who found the choice distasteful:
“Forever 21 takes feedback on our products and marketing extremely seriously. We celebrate all superheroes with many different models of various ethnicities and apologize if the photo in question was offensive in any way.”
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