Shein Apologizes for Selling Swastika Necklace—But People Aren’t Buying It

Today in what the hell were they thinking, Shein has apologized for selling a “metal swastika pendant necklace” after online shoppers and social media users called for a boycott of the fast-fashion brand for promoting anti-Semitic Nazi paraphernalia. 

On Thursday, July 9, Instagram account @hereforthetea posted screenshots of the Shein pendant, which was retailing at $4 (other screenshots showed the price as low as $2.50). “Shein, a company that’s become popular for YouTube ‘try on hauls,’ appears to be selling swastika necklaces?!!! I am disgusted,” the user wrote in the caption. Soon after, many others on Twitter and Instagram were calling for a response from the brand. 

“I am so disgusted by @sheinofficial‘s sheer ignorance and blatant disrespect towards other cultures and religions,” Instagram influencer Nabela Noor wrote in a post, which she also screengrabbed for Twitter.⁣ Noor pointed out that this was not the first time Shein had faced criticism for offensive sales practices. Just last week, the brand stopped selling religious prayer rugs as decorative “tassel trim carpets” after a wave of backlash. 

Noor added that she would be reaching out to the head of brand and asked her followers to tag Shein in her comments and on its own page. “⁣@sheinofficial, this is unacceptable,” she said. “Enough is enough.”

On Friday, July 10, Shein apologized on its Twitter and Instagram accounts, while also shirking responsibility by claiming the pendant was a Buddhist symbol, not an anti-Semitic one.

“To our dear community,” the statement began alongside a crying emoji. “We made a gigantic mistake by selling a product that's hurtful and offensive to many of you, and we're so, so sorry."

The brand then claimed it listed “a Buddhist swastika necklace," though the statement recognizes “there's simply no excuse for our lack of sensitivity in doing so." The item was allegedly removed as soon as Shein “discovered” the mistake.

“The Buddhist symbol has stood for spirituality and good fortune for more than a thousand years, and has a different design than the Nazi swastika which stands for hate,” the statement continued. “But frankly, that doesn't matter because we should've been more considerate of the symbol's hurtful connotations to so many people around the world and we didn't.” So…nobody thought about what the necklace would look like if it was simply flipped around? 

“The only thing we can do is profusely apologize and reassure you that we're making major internal changes so this doesn't happen again,” the statement continued, promising to establish a review board to approve products before they're sold. “We will also cease the sale of any religious items on our site.”

“We know we have a lot of work to do to deserve the love and support you've shown us these last few years,” the apology concludes. “But please believe that we in no way support or condone racial, cultural, and religious prejudice or hatred. We love all of you and hope you stay with us.”

As you can imagine, many had thoughts on this statement—which has garnered more than 6,000 replies so far on Instagram alone, with many in the comments pointing out that the company could donate the profits from the necklace to antidefamation organizations or Jewish charities. 

I'll just leave these Twitter responses here….

Originally Appeared on Glamour