Next, the fashion retailer has been accused of offensive and disrespectful behavior after the launch of a Christmas jumper with a slogan criticized by many. The slogan on the jumper reads “Don’t let your kids become snowflakes, let them be snowmen”. Unsurprisingly, this prompted anger and outrage on social media with many people calling it “disgusting,” “absolutely shocking,” and urging people to boycott Next’s products.
The controversy erupted after a father, who was worried about the message the jumper was sending out, shared it on Twitter. Though many seemed to agree with the father, some argued that the jumper was not offensive and could simply be seen as an innocent Christmas prank.
However, the majority of the online community was quick to condemn the product, with the hashtag #BoycottNext trending on Twitter. The argument was that the statement on the jumper implies that children should not be allowed to have feelings and be sensitive. It was also claimed that the jumper is a form of bullying and sends a message that children should act a certain way.
Moreover, many parents claimed that the company’s decision to sell the item is disrespectful and irresponsible as it underestimates children’s feelings and encourages them to suppress them. Furthermore, as parents already struggle to raise children in a society that often pressures them to act a certain way, the jumper could further damage the self-esteem and mental health of young people.
In response to the backlash, Next was quick to issue an apology and remove the jumper from sale. Despite their apology, the majority of online users were still unsatisfied, and demanded that the company should demonstrate greater care and sensitivity when designing new products.
In conclusion, it is clear that the jumper was offensive and disrespectful and the consequences of its launch have been felt by many people. Although Next has removed the offensive product from sale, it remains to be seen if the company has learned its lesson and will pay more attention to designing products that do not cause unnecessary offense in the future.
