Spanish clothing retailer Zara recently found itself embroiled in controversy after a children's t-shirt was criticized for being "sexually suggestive."
The incident came to light when Laura Wilson, a 32-year-old mother of two from London, shared a video of the t-shirt on social media, expressing her shock and concern.
The white crew-neck shirt featured bold black and red text on the front that read "The Perfect Snack" on one side and "The Strawberry: A small burst of sweet joy" on the other. The back of the shirt displayed an image of two strawberry halves, one showing the fruit’s interior and the other its exterior, accompanied by the phrases "Take a bite. A burst of sweet delight, making it the perfect summer snack" and "The strawberry: a small burst of joy."
Wilson discovered the t-shirt in the girl's section at Zara's Bluewater Shopping Centre store in Kent. The term "snack" is commonly used in slang to describe someone who is sexually attractive, which led to her discomfort with the shirt's messaging.
In her video, Wilson voiced her concerns, stating, "I am not one to be overly sensitive about clothing, and this was in the girl's section. Just wait till you see what's on the back. If you have bought this for your child, you need serious words with yourself, in my opinion."
Wilson admitted that at first, she thought she might be overreacting but was reassured when others on TikTok shared her view, calling the t-shirt "vile" and "inappropriate."
She explained to the Daily Mail, "It's very suggestive. This t-shirt was for a six to seven-year-old, and I don't think this is okay. Where it says 'the perfect snack,' this is very suggestive... I would never have my daughter walking around with 'take a bite' on the back of her t-shirt."
In response to the backlash, Zara issued an apology and swiftly removed the t-shirt from its stores and website.
A spokesperson for the brand clarified to the New York Post, "There was no intention for the use of the word 'snack' on this T-shirt to imply anything other than the traditional meaning of the word, as evidenced by the image of a strawberry on the garment. However, we now understand that some individuals have interpreted the term differently."
The company concluded by saying, "We have removed the T-shirt from stores and our website, and we apologize for any misunderstanding or offense caused."