The clothing retailer Urban Outfitters, which targets the youth, was forced to apologize after briefly making a “Vintage Kent State Sweatshirt” splattered with fake blood, dirt, and holes available on its website for around $130. Critics claimed it was a callous attempt to profit from the infamous U.S. college Kent State known for being the site where four Vietnam War protesters were shot dead by the Ohio National Guard on May 4, 1970.
The company apologized for any offense that the Vintage Kent State Sweatshirt may have caused the apology further explained that it was never their intention to allude to the tragic events that took place at Kent State in 1970 and they were extremely saddened that the sweatshirt was perceived as such and labelled the act as an unintentional coincidence.
The clothing line went ahead to remove the sweatshirt from the website to avoid further controversy and issued an apology statement claiming that there was no blood on the shirt and no alterations were made whatsoever as the red stains were discoloration from the original shade of the shirt, and the holes are from natural wear and fray.
The university had also issued a statement on Monday citing that it was greatly offended that Urban Outfitters would use the “watershed moment” for its “publicity and profit.”
According to their statement, Kent State has invited UO executives to their May 4 Visitors Center to educate them on the violence that took place on the campus.
This is not the first time that Urban Outfitters has made headlines for some of its design choices.
