Taking Offense

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Two groups are backtracking this week for offensive symbols and language. Are people too sensitive, or should marketers be more careful? 

Cna23hLXgAABa74The Trump campaign for president created the first failing: a logo that looked pornographic to some people. A Slate article is titled, "A Hard Look at the Trump-Pence Campaign's Penetrating New Logo." Twitter jokes abound: 

  • @ellievhall: "When two people love each other very much and want to start a campaign together..."
  • @willrahn: "How are we supposed to explain the new Trump logo to our children??"

Forever 21Although the Trump campaign hasn't responded specifically, the logo no longer appears on the website.

In other news, Forever 21 has pulled t-shirts for boys with sayings such as, "Sorry, I only date models," "Chicks are all over me," and "Ladies Man." Critics say the t-shirts sexualize children. 

Forever 21 communicated the decision in a statement: "Forever 21 takes feedback and product concerns very seriously. With regards to the T-shirts in question, after receiving feedback we have taken immediate action to have them removed from our website.  We sincerely apologize to anyone who was offended by the products."

Discussion Starters: 

  • What's your opinion to the initial question: Are people too sensitive, or should marketers be more careful? 
  • Did the Trump campaign and Forever 21 do the right thing in pulling the logo and t-shirts? 
  • Should the Trump campaign communicate anything else at this point? Did the Forever 21 statement say enough?