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Matalan rebuffs 'racist' children’s monkey onsie accusations, calls situation 'very sad' Matalan rebuffs 'racist' children’s monkey onesie accusations, calls situation 'very sad'
(about 2 hours later)
Matalan has rebuffed claims that a photo-shoot of children modelling novelty onesies is racist, after people complained about the only two black children in the image wearing monkey outfits.Matalan has rebuffed claims that a photo-shoot of children modelling novelty onesies is racist, after people complained about the only two black children in the image wearing monkey outfits.
The main catalogue image shows eight children all dressed in different onesies; two depicting bunnies, one a ladybird, one an Angry Bird, one boy in a Spiderman onesie, and two boys in monkey onesies.The main catalogue image shows eight children all dressed in different onesies; two depicting bunnies, one a ladybird, one an Angry Bird, one boy in a Spiderman onesie, and two boys in monkey onesies.
People took to Twitter to complain that the only two black children in the photo-shoot were in monkey outfits, calling the image “rude”, "stupid," and “quite racist,” and called for the company to apologise.People took to Twitter to complain that the only two black children in the photo-shoot were in monkey outfits, calling the image “rude”, "stupid," and “quite racist,” and called for the company to apologise.
Other users defended the retailer, calling the incident “political correctness gone mad”.Other users defended the retailer, calling the incident “political correctness gone mad”.
Matalan responded to people's complaints by explaining the circumstances of the shoot, and expressed its disappointment that the image had turned into a “race issue”.Matalan responded to people's complaints by explaining the circumstances of the shoot, and expressed its disappointment that the image had turned into a “race issue”.
A spokesperson for the company said: “We regularly work with the two boys and they chose the outfits they wanted to wear, as did all the other children on the shoot.A spokesperson for the company said: “We regularly work with the two boys and they chose the outfits they wanted to wear, as did all the other children on the shoot.
“Their parents were with them the whole time and they all really enjoyed the day.“Their parents were with them the whole time and they all really enjoyed the day.
“It is very sad that some people have turned this into a race issue,” the spokesperson added.“It is very sad that some people have turned this into a race issue,” the spokesperson added.