Urban Outfitters: Purposely Offending?

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As Kevin Allen of PR Daily says, "It'd be reasonable to think Urban Outfitters is doing this on purpose." Yes, we are beyond the point of forgiveness for an oversight. Most reasonable people would agree that the similarity between Urban Outfitter's new tapestry and the pink triangle uniform given to gays during the Holocaust is too close to be coincidental. 

Urban Outfitters pink triangle

The Anti-Defamation League and B'nai B'rith (in a  letter) have asked Urban Outfitters to remove the product. No word from the company yet.

Urban Outfitters is making a habit of offending. The Week has identified 14 "missteps," and this makes at least the 15th. The Week staff summarizes the issue well:

"Over the years, Urban Outfitters, a store aimed at young hipsters and owned by big-time conservative donor Richard Hayne, has managed to offend blacks, Jews, Native Americans, liberals, conservatives, and eating-disorder awareness groups, among others."

Discussion Starters: 

  • Does this news affect your decision to shop at Urban Outfitters? Why or why not?
  • What, if anything, should the company say at this point? What is there to say, really? 
  • Read the B'nai B'rith  letter. In what ways do you find it convincing-or not?