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:
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.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!!
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!
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.
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.
sirpeter | Mar 05, 2012, 05:47 PM EST
LOL @ciaradexy
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.
ciaradexy | Mar 05, 2012, 01:00 PM EST
Thebear, exactly, ye big bo*@ocks!
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
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
faberm1 | Mar 03, 2012, 01:37 PM EST
The Navajo Nation has just brought suit against Urban Outfitters for calling items "Navajo" when they are not. There must be some Irish organization that could bring a restraining order against them. I only find a few of the items truly offensive. The others are free speech.
JBRAFTREE | Mar 03, 2012, 12:36 PM EST
Addendum, As I have posted before, wear a sport jersey of your fav county in Ireland, I know they cost a bit more, but they're guaranteed to look nice and they are available at most Irish Import stores. If it's cold, wear a long-sleeved shirt underneath.
Chuck E. Arla | Mar 03, 2012, 12:26 PM EST
George Dillon, You are quite mistaken. The AOH is an American organization, thus they are expressing their complaints in the US to a US retail chain. For the AOH to have ignored Urban Outfitters but instead complained to/about Primark in Ireland would be hypocrtical.
JBRAFTREE | Mar 03, 2012, 12:11 PM EST
You "Right Coasters", take care of business!!!!
ANDYSPOT | Mar 03, 2012, 11:35 AM EST
Being an Irishman who has lived here for the past seventeen years,former NYC bartender, the first thing remember when I left New York was thank god I don't have bartend on ST. Patricks day.. If the shoe fits.... I do go out on "pattys" day but not till late and not to an Irish pub. This message is brought to by our friends at bud,guinness,jameson and baileys
ciaradexy | Mar 03, 2012, 11:10 AM EST
Georgie, I might be many things, I may even be a fool but Im not a Plastic Paddy unlike yourself! Johnnyb, Im looking for the offended irish person too!
johhnyb | Mar 03, 2012, 10:34 AM EST
The outrage is palpable here in Ireland. Well it probably is if I could just find that person who is outraged. There must be someone...anyone?
GeorgeDillon | Mar 03, 2012, 10:26 AM EST
Curdexter: When I think of you, I can't get too angry about the T-shirts which depict the Irish as fools and morons. They got it right in at least one case!
JohnKinMD | Mar 03, 2012, 10:11 AM EST
Get a LIFE people.
colkelley | Mar 03, 2012, 10:02 AM EST
Simple - in today's America you CANNOT be offended, discriminated against, or the victim of racism unless you a not white or not Christian. Caucasians are fair game with absolutely no recourse and even as a longtime atheist I am TIRED of seeing Christians slammed for their beliefs. It just might be time to start "Civil Rights For Whites" marches, stage sit-ins, and exercise civil disobedience. Me, I am going to start WET (White Entertainment Television), IVORY magazine (explains itself), White Movie Stars magazine, White Sports Stars magazine, a clothing line called FWPBWP (For White People By White People and pronounced "FWIPBWIP"), find sponsors for Miss White America, etc., etc. If it is not racist when non-whties do it then it is not racist if whites do it. And in case you think I might be racist I have two half-Filipino sons and one bisexual Black "foster" son who still calls me "Dad." Not racist, just tired of seeing obvious racism explained as "pride."
CelticQueenUSA | Mar 03, 2012, 09:59 AM EST
BOYCOT!!!!!
tomgallagher | Mar 03, 2012, 09:54 AM EST
Just stop buying their merchandise.
ciaradexy | Mar 03, 2012, 09:37 AM EST
Georgie-''How come they don't complain to the Penneys/Primark chain in Ireland,'' because the irish would tell them to go back to the US and worry about their own country! Idiots!
CitizenWhy | Mar 03, 2012, 09:31 AM EST
Urban Outfitters loves the free publicity. The student/young buyers that buy at Urban Outfitters will delight in knowing that the items they are buying have outraged the old guys. Repeat, in many parts of the US St. Patrick's Day is NOT an Irish event, it's a neo-pagan celebration of naughtiness, a form of Carnival. Carnival was the last time to go wild with sinning before confessing your sins at the beginning of Lent. Carnival was not celebrated in the northern US, but St. Patrick's Day came along to provide an analogy. ... P.S. In the Caribbean and elsewhere St. Patrick represents the head of the VooDoo gods. Will the AOH next be taking on VooDoo?
Erinlady | Mar 03, 2012, 09:27 AM EST
People that buy ofensive shirts of any kind are just trying to get attention, Ignore the gobshites.
GeorgeDillon | Mar 03, 2012, 07:38 AM EST
What hypocrites the AOH are. How come they don't complain to the Penneys/Primark chain in Ireland, whose stores are curently full of I Rish I Was Drunk and other offensive T-shirts.