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Home Page > News > Old Navy axes offensive ‘Irish I Was Drunk’ t-shirts - SEE VIDEO & POLL

Old Navy axes offensive ‘Irish I Was Drunk’ t-shirts - SEE VIDEO & POLL

Company recognizes that t-shirts 'went too far'

CATHY HAYES,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Wednesday, February 9, 2011, 7:17 AM

Updated Wednesday, February 9, 2011, 8:55 AM

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53 Comments

IrishCentral.com Poll

T-shirts at the popular clothing store Old Navy have been pulled after their logos received strong reactions from the public, especially Irish Americans.

One of the graphic t-shirts read "Irish I Was Drunk" while the other showed a picture of Snoopy holding a mug of root beer. It read "Party Like You're Irish.”

The ‘Irish I Was Drunk’ t-shirt in particular enraged Irish Americans who felt it played into the old stereotype of the Irish around St. Patrick’s Day.

A spokesperson for the store's parent company said, "We recognize these t-shirts went too far and we sincerely apologize to the Irish community for any offense caused. We are removing all units from the stores and online as soon as physically possible."

Speaking to CBS 2 New York, members of the public gave their opinions on the graphic t-shirts. Kristin O'Leary said, "I could definitely see how some people could be offended. I’m not personally offended by it."

Keith Wilson said, "Can’t you find another way to sell t-shirts than intimating they’re all drunks?"

Do you find these t-shirts offensive? Let us know below.

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53 Comments

15 - 53 | See all comments

bonjouryall | Jun 02, 2011, 12:17 PM EDT

Perhas Old Navy can change it to 'Irish I were gay' in honor of their coming out of the closet this week.

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Rionach | Feb 21, 2011, 07:10 PM EST

Anyone get a shirt before they were pulled from the rack? Id like 2 please one to wear and another to give my mother

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seanomelbourne | Feb 12, 2011, 11:00 PM EST

And I did shed a tear on that faithful day as millions did before me,but I'm one of the lucky ones I did not end up in the U.S of A. I picked the lucky country--Australia--

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citizen69 | Feb 12, 2011, 01:55 PM EST

No thanks seano, you'll probably need them for the next time you get all teary-eyed for the Auld Country... You Know, the one you love so much you actually left it.

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seanomelbourne | Feb 12, 2011, 01:09 AM EST

Wanna box of tissues citizen69?

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nicgearailt | Feb 11, 2011, 09:04 PM EST

I think it's obscene that Irish people could be ok with this..they need to raise their standards. It is nothing to do with humor...you allow people to degrade you....that's not smart...you should have a little more pride...do not allow someone else to define you..

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citizen69 | Feb 11, 2011, 08:31 AM EST

I'd take a bet that the people who buy these shirts are overwhelmingly of Irish heritage. These stereotype T-Shirts are available in most Irish souvenir shops in Ireland! Ireland is one of the biggest drinking nations on the planet, that's a fact. Obviously some people seem to take pride in that for some strange reason. If we take out all of the stereotypical products from Irish tourism shops there'd be precious little left to sell! Definitely not as offensive as an Irish Car Bomb, yet they're still on sale.

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Goosey68 | Feb 11, 2011, 12:05 AM EST

Irish born, Irish bred ...g'wan the Dubs! I live in the USA land of the Free ...not so sure about the brave anymore. This political correctness shite is a load of me bollox. A t-shirt that says "Irish I was drunk" offends you really. I think people are looking for a reason to be offended. The Irish have a sense of humour we will laugh at ourselves as quick as at you. The Irish are secure in our identity and do not feel the need to leap to defend ourselves at bull like this. Lighten up, as you're a short time here and a long time dead! I actually have the cup warmer with the same verbage on my desk with a small Irish flag sticking out of it ...my American wife bought it for me, knowing that I'd see the humour in it.

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seanomelbourne | Feb 10, 2011, 06:14 PM EST

Georgy my boy! I don't need a yank to remind me of my Irishness.I am Dublin born and visited recently.Penneys owned by associated british foods which owns Primark which markets Penneys.Take your foot out of your mouth Georgy boy.

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ancavker | Feb 10, 2011, 02:00 PM EST

wookkern: Lots of Irish born too would be just as happy to wear those shirts too. Those that live in glass houses should not throw stones. You should have seen what my Irish-American neighborhood looked like in the 80's on a Sunday morning after they had their fill the night before. You want to talk about vomit!!!

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ancavker | Feb 10, 2011, 01:55 PM EST

cuculin: I have to stick up for George on this one. Yes he is American and Irish,and one can be both, whether those that were born In Ireland agree or not. I understand the love hate thing, and I am guilty of it myself, when I slam the the Irish born Irish, for their slavish aping of everything English (and to a lesser extent American), and their disdain, dare I say hatred for anything Irish, including the language. I am not saying they need to love it, or cherish it, but they could at least respect it, and not disparage it. Also many have issues with out of control drinking, and the constant use of profanity, including the incredibly offensive C--- word, is just offensive. They degrade themselves using it.

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GeorgeDillon | Feb 10, 2011, 01:09 PM EST

seanomelbourne: Knock off the stupid abuse, or at least restrict it to when you're right. (We won't be hearing any more from you if youi do that). It seems you've been in Australia too long--what passes for your brains are gone Down Under! You're talking dingo turd when you claim that Penneys is English. The founder and, I believe, still the Chairman of Penneys is a Dubliner called Arthur Ryan. He started Penneys in Dublin in 1969. From there it spread to places like Britain, Spain etc., trading as Primark. Listen Sean, why don't you just up and go walkabout back to the Old Country. You won't believe the changes you'll see! You're completely out of touch out there in the Outback. Stop in to Penneys in downtown Dubllin while you're there. You'll see a vision of the Ireland of the future, not your sentimental old garbage. You see, there ain't no Irish working in Penneys in Ireland!!

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krissangel | Feb 10, 2011, 08:04 AM EST

I agree with snakehips - well said!

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allirishcolleen | Feb 09, 2011, 09:46 PM EST

I agree i think they should be pulled,i am not saying that the Irish are angels,but that sort of thing makes people think that all they do is drink. And that is sooo far from the truth,i was born and raised in Derry N.Ireland dident see any of that and i dident have a drink until i was 23yo And i get tired of saying that NO we are not all drunks because the Irish have been stereotyped and people believe it.

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