Retail faux pas: A history of ill-advised products that had to be pulled
When it comes to offensive clothing, Abercrombie & Fitch has provided a veritable embarrassment of riches -- remember the “Two Wongs Can Make it White” debacle from 2002? One of the most recent exemplars of questionable taste: the chain’s decision to feature a shirt with the message “# more boyfriends than t.s.” The chemise threw fans of singer Taylor Swift -- a star known for her extensive dating history -- into a tizzy. Whether the item was then intentionally removed from shelves is unclear; a company representative suggested that the shirt disappeared after making its way through the standard retail cycle through regular displays and clearance racks. (Kathy Willens / Associated Press)
Abercrombie & Fitch. Target. Urban Outfitters. These retailers and others have chosen to sell items that, upon sparking customer rage, were quickly removed from shelves.