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Home Page > News > Urban Outfitters continue to sell offensive items despite Irish outrage VIDEOS

Urban Outfitters continue to sell offensive items despite Irish outrage VIDEOS

Clothing group have yet to comment despite complaints about inappropriate clothing line

BERNIE MALONE,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Saturday, March 3, 2012, 7:07 AM

Updated Saturday, March 3, 2012, 7:08 AM

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31 Comments

Irish Yoga Trucker Hat currently being sold at Urban Outfitters

Photo by UrbanOutfitters.com

Urban Outfitters are continuing to sell offensive St. Patrick’s Day merchandise despite an outcry from Congressional leaders and the Irish-American community.

The clothing store has still not responded to countless media requests since IrishCentral broke the story.

A trucker hat with the tag-line “Irish Yoga,” featuring a stick figure vomiting shamrocks, is just one of the items which has prompted public outrage.

As well as selling various St. Patrick’s Day themed products in their stories, there is also a designated “St. Patrick’s Day shop” on their website, selling over 30 items such as “Leprechaun Piss” and a “Kiss me I’m drunk or Irish, or whatever” t-shirt.

IrishCentral’s New York office has been inundated with calls, emails, and messages from people voicing their disgust over the flippant portrayal of Irish-American culture.

ABC network, Fox News, Daily Mail and many other outlets have carried stories on the fallout from the products.
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Read More:

Drunks vomiting shamrocks feature in top US store clothing line - POLL

Irish call for apology following 'Drunk Vomiting Shamrocks' clothing line
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The clothing group was also scorned by congressional leaders this week when an official letter was sent to their Philadelphia base accusing their merchandise of “fueling stereotypes”.

"We recently learned of images used by Urban Outfitters in its St. Patrick's Day clothing line that depict severe and negative stereotypes of Irish and Irish-American people as well as may promote binge drinking," the letter from 10 members of Congress stated.

"We strongly urge you to end the sale of these items."

The Ancient Order of the Hibernians has called on the public to boycott the clothing brand.

In February, the clothing retailer announced that Tedford Marlow was to return to the company as CEO of the group. Marlow had previously retired in early 2010 as the president of the brand.

Watch an ABC report on the issue below:

Watch a FOX News report on the issue below:

Anger Over St. Patrick's Day Items: MyFoxTWINCITIES.com

Nster.com

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31 Comments

15 - 31 | See all comments

BenP82 | Mar 07, 2012, 11:27 AM EST

Im born Irish, and the Bear is spot on, if you are that sensitive in Ireland, you would get it even worse!! Hence why the Irish are so "Thick Skinned". These T Shirts, the exact ones, have been sold on other web sites for years, and i have plenty of Irish friends who have bought them. Fair enough, if it was the queen and all her cronies wearing em and having a good royal laugh at us it might be one thing, but thats not gonna happen, so lighten up for jaysus sakes!!

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cinderfella1 | Mar 06, 2012, 02:05 AM EST

It's been a difficult year finding any decent Irish T-shirts to wear to the St. Patrick's Day Parade this year. They have been more limited this year, perhaps due to the economy, and the few I've seen have not been to my liking, but I finally bought a green soccer Jersey that has the words Ireland written on it. Last years St. Patrick's Day parade in Huntsville, Alabama was their best one yet, and hopefully this year will be even better! ERIN GO BRAUGH!

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warrenpoint00 | Mar 05, 2012, 08:08 PM EST

The AOH is a fraternal society and is very active and very respected in the U.S.A and in Ireland.Whoooo is urban outfitters. I guess they lost whatever they were playing.

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Greendays | Mar 05, 2012, 07:05 PM EST

Come on fellow's, don't takes things so seriously. It(the stuff)seems slightly overpriced; but the beer sunglasses look like fun.

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sirpeter | Mar 05, 2012, 05:47 PM EST

LOL @ciaradexy

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Brian921 | Mar 05, 2012, 03:41 PM EST

Unfortunately we have A history that's fed into these stereo types, though yes these stereo types are very offensive and concerning I feel the best way to make them go away is to stop feeding into them.In other words watch your self and don't join in with those who feel St Patrick's Day is an excuse to get all out plastered.

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ciaradexy | Mar 05, 2012, 01:00 PM EST

Thebear, exactly, ye big bo*@ocks!

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thebear85 | Mar 04, 2012, 06:10 PM EST

I have to agree with Ciara.. I'm Irish, born and raised and I think it's hilarious. I've been seeing pics like this on Facebook all week and I haven't seen one friend complain.. In fact they've got quite alot of shares.I'm afraid that in my quarter of a century of living on this island I've NEVER come across an Irish person who is that sensitive.. And I wouldn't want to either.( nobody likes a dryballs) One thing I love about Ireland is our sense of humour and I wouldn't change it for the world.Lack of sensitivity is key here because we call each other horrible things all the time but only if we like each other :) The more profane the term the more we like you. So lighten up and get a life ye bunch of moaners :P

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GeorgeDillon | Mar 04, 2012, 02:59 PM EST

No, Chuck, George as in George Washington. You got a problem with that? And you might want to work on your logic. You tell us that the AOH is an American organization. Then you tell us theres's an AOH in Ireland. So which one is it? Make up your mind.

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Chuck E. Arla | Mar 03, 2012, 09:34 PM EST

George, George . . .I note the royal "WE"....as in King George? I like how you speak for everyone on this thread, and perhaps the world. But, no you are mistaken. The AOH IS an American organization. It does have a sometimes fractured relationship with a similar organization in Ireland....not specifically/solely in the North of Ireland as your Lordship states. It's not disimilar to the US Boy Scouts and the original UK group, or the USGA and their Irish counterparts, etc. To your other/ongoing point: Irish American groups hold American businesses to a standard because they are AMERICAN businesses. For Yanks to preach to the Irish is pretentious.

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Rebelforce | Mar 03, 2012, 07:14 PM EST

If the 40 million or so Americans who claim Irish ancestry aren't able to get a shabby clothing store like Urban Outfitters to take these offensive items off their shelves, if for no other reason than the negative affects these bigoted stereotypes will have on Irish-American children, than they deserve all the comic ridicule and lack of respect that comes there way. The forces of Political Correctness in the US aren't going to take up this fight, Irish-Americans are going to have to rely on themselves alone.

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ciaradexy | Mar 03, 2012, 04:42 PM EST

Now now George, stop making up meanings for irish phrases! Youre just reaffirming the meaning of Oirish Plastic Paddy!

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GeorgeDillon | Mar 03, 2012, 04:19 PM EST

Curdexter: Of course you're a Plastic Paddy. A Plastic Paddy is an Oirish person who knows nothing of Irish history, literature, language, folk lore etc. That's you. Don't worry, there's lots of you in Old Oireland!

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GeorgeDillon | Mar 03, 2012, 04:16 PM EST

Chuck: There's no need to tell us that the AOH is an American organization. WE KNOW. But you don't appear to know that there is an AOH in the North of Ireland. The point remains. Why do Irish-Americans hold American businesses to a higher standard with regard to anti-Irish bigotry than that exhibited by Irish businesses.

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ciaradexy | Mar 03, 2012, 02:27 PM EST

faberm, Im not sure if you noticed but its Americans who are losing sleep over this. We Irish arent all that arsed. We drink too much so these t-shirts etc are pretty accurate depictions. You need to get a life if you feel a restraining order should be taken out. Seriously. cop on.

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