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Urban Outfitters Stirs Up Controversy With The Release Of "Blood Stained" Kent State Crew Neck Appearing To Mock 1970 Tragedy At Kent State.
Urban Outfitters Stirs Up Controversy With The Release Of "Blood Stained" Kent State Crew Neck Appearing To Mock 1970 Tragedy At Kent State.

Urban Outfitters’ Kent State Sweatshirt Causes Controversy

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY.

Urban Outfitters had social media in an uproar today over its vintage, blood stained sweatshirt that appears to be mocking the Kent State tragedy of 1970. Priced at $129, the top was later removed from the site after receiving an adverse reaction from the social media community. Unfortunately, Urban Outfitters is no stranger to sparking controversy as it has fallen trap to offending just about everyone; from Blacks, Jews, and Native Americans, to those suffering from drug abuse and eating disorders.

From the look of this “one-of-a-kind” piece, it’s pretty difficult for one not to associate this with the incident at Kent State.

If you’re unfamiliar with the cause of this backlash, here's a brief history: on May 4, 1970, the National Guard opened fire on student demonstrators at Kent State who were protesting against military action in Cambodia. As a result, four students were killed and nine others wounded.

In an attempt to fix the damage done, Urban Outfitters released this statement via twitter:

"Urban Outfitters sincerely apologizes for any offense our Vintage Kent State Sweatshirt may have caused. It was never our intention to allude to the tragic events that took place at Kent State in 1970 and we are extremely saddened that this item was perceived as such. The one-of-a-kind item was purchased as part of our sun-faded vintage collection. There is no blood on this shirt nor has this item been altered in any way. The red stains are discoloration from the original shade of the shirt and the holes are from natural wear and fray. Again, we deeply regret that this item was perceived negatively and we have removed it immediately from our website to avoid further upset.”

It is also interesting to note the pattern that occurs with these discussions. With every controversy stemming from the Urban Outfitters brand, its target audience (ranging from 18-26) is almost always unfamiliar with the topic at hand. As much as socially conscious individuals may want to boycott a brand they feel shames society, it essentially boils down to educating those who are fattening the pockets of these brands.