Costco has pulled a controversial doll from its shelves after
customers complained it was racist.Way back in 1983 Howard Cosell got in trouble after he called a particularly fast black running back a "little monkey". It took him awhile to beat back the accusations of racism.
The doll is called 'Cuddle with Me" manufactured by BrassKey Keepsakes. It's the headband that is causing the controversy. It reads "Lil' Monkey." The doll is also surrounded by stuffed monkeys. The white doll counterpart on store shelves is surrounded by pandas, with a hat that reads 'Pretty Panda.'
Mary Gustoff, CEO of Brasskey Keepsakes, said the company has apologized for the mistake, and never intended it to be racist.
"It's so unfortunate because now it's portrayed as a purposeful act to be disrespectful and that's not true. We really apologize. We don't think in that way. We don't operate in that kind of thinking. We have a really diverse, family operated company that's been around for 28 years. What would we have to gain for heaven's sake?"
Costco is also apologizing for the mistake.
Many customers complained the doll was a reference to the term "monkey" which has been used in the past by racists to denegrate African Americans.
I'm surprised that somebody in the Costco purchasing chain of command didn't realize this doll would cause a ruckus.
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3 comments:
Why should it cause a ruckus? It's exactly the "change" Americans voted for.
The title of this article is ridiculous. A Buyer is not losing his job. The product wasn't purchased out of malice, it was just a mistake.
It may have been a mistake, but stupidity will get you fired just as fast as malice.
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