Popular online shopping brand, SHEIN, gets publicly slammed for their new jewelry item: a Swastika necklace.
Though the company has since apologized and removed the item from their site, many are hesitant to support their company since the circulation of this product. Originally given the title “Swastika Pendant Necklace,” SHEIN.com was selling the necklace for $2.50 USD. Their website currently doesn’t appear to contain any other products with that description.
The company received backlash from the public as well as many “calls to action” ordering them to stop producing the necklace. One Instagram account, @stop_antisemitism posted a picture of the necklace with the caption: “we demand that #shein IMMEDIATELY remove this item from their website as it represents the mass murder of millions.”
Less than one hour after Stop Antisemitism uploaded the post to their Instagram account, the necklace was removed.
In a statement from SHEIN to Buzzfeed news they deny using the symbol but instead the Buddhist swastika stating, “Buddhist swastika which has symbolized spirituality and good fortune for more than a thousand years.”
SHEIN’s spokesperson also states to Buzzfeed that, “the Nazi symbol has a different design, that it’s pointed clockwise, and tilted at an angle.” Another quote from SHEIN is as follows, “However, because we understand the two symbols can be confused, and one is highly offensive, we have removed the product from our site.”
Many people are now refusing to support the brand, SHEIN, especially since the criticism SHEIN faced earlier in this week from selling reverent Muslim prayer rugs as decorative mats.
It seems SHEIN has just apologized for unethical content and is now paying the price for more. SHEIN’s final statement to Buzzfeed news included an actual apology with their spokesperson stating:
“As a multicultural and global brand, we want to apologize profusely to those who are offended, we are sensitive to these issues and want to be very clear that we in no way support or condone racial, cultural and religious prejudice or hostility.”
“We are actively working through our internal structure and processes to resolve these issues, including a product review committee to ensure that we respect our diverse community.”
“We are a global and all-inclusive brand and we are taking extreme measures to ensure that all items are cleared through a rigorous vetting process before we retail them.”
We can only hope that SHEIN becomes more socially conscious in the future.
What are your thoughts? Do you agree with SHEIN’s decision to remove their necklace?
