Urban Outfitters under fire for red-stained Kent State sweatshirt
Urban Outfitters is facing criticism for selling a red-stained Kent State sweatshirt; an apparent reference to the Kent State Massacre. Credit: ebay.com
Retailer Urban Outfitters has come under fire (yes, again) for selling a "vintage" Kent State sweatshirt featuring blood spatter-like markings, an apparent reference to the Kent State shootings in 1970.
Four students were killed and nine were injured when the Ohio National Guard opened fire during a Vietnam War protest.
According to the listing, which has since been removed, the questionable top was priced at $129 and there was only one available for purchase.
Shortly after disappearing from Urban Outfitter's site, a user claiming to have ordered the sweatshirt posted it on eBay with a "Buy It Now" price of $2,500 and a starting bid of $550.
After receiving tons of negative feedback on social media, the company tweeted an apology saying, "It was never our intention to allude to the tragic events that took place at Kent State in 1970 and we are extremely saddened that this item was perceived as such."
Urban Outfitters is no stranger to bad press. The retailer faced similar criticism for selling a crop top printed with the word "depression" in January, and another top that read "Eat Less" in 2010.
