The Weeknd Quits H&M Partnership Over Racist Ad: 'I'm Deeply Offended'

Taryn Finley
Updated

The Weeknd is ending his partnership with H&M following backlash over a racist posting on its U.K. website showing a black child model posing in a hoodie that read “Coolest Monkey In The Jungle.”

On Monday, the “Starboy” singer denounced the listing and announced that he would no longer be collaborating with the company.

“Woke up this morning shocked and embarrassed by this photo,” he wrote. “I’m deeply offended and will not be working with @hm anymore...”

The Weeknd worked with H&M twice in 2017 when he starred in and curated their Spring Icons campaign and created an 18-piece fall collection.

H&M’s post, which made the rounds on social media on Sunday night, has drawn widespread outrage. Folks pointed to the harmful, centuries-old comparison to monkeys that white people used as a way to oppress and degrade black people. Others noted that the white children modeled sweatshirts with other messages, but only the black child wore the “monkey” sweatshirt.

H&M pulled the listing and issued an apology on Monday.

“We understand that many people are upset about the image. We, who work at H&M, can only agree. We are deeply sorry that the picture was taken, and we also regret the actual print,” company representatives told The Wrap. “Therefore, we have not only removed the image from our channels, but also the garment from our product offering globally.”

They continued, “It is obvious that our routines have not been followed properly. This is without any doubt. We will thoroughly investigate why this happened to prevent this type of mistake from happening again.”

Also on HuffPost

White City

Wow, we heard of "white flight" before but this is ridiculous! (via <a href="http://failblog.org/2010/08/09/epic-fail-photos-name-fail-15-5/" target="_hplink">Fail Blog</a>)
Wow, we heard of "white flight" before but this is ridiculous! (via Fail Blog)

White Power Audi

We'd make a joke about it being a German car, but we know your mind already went there. (via <a href="http://www.11points.com/Misc/11_Accidentally_Racist_Product_and_Company_Names" target="_hplink">11 Points</a>)
We'd make a joke about it being a German car, but we know your mind already went there. (via 11 Points)

Barney

Hey! What the hell, Barney? (via <a href="http://www.photobasement.com/barney-is-racist/" target="_hplink">PhotoBasement</a>)
Hey! What the hell, Barney? (via PhotoBasement)

Segregation Signs?

Let's hope these towns were named a long, long time ago. (via <a href="http://www.shipbrook.com/jeff/blog/images/Whitestown-Brownsburg-small.jpg" target="_hplink">Leapfish</a>)
Let's hope these towns were named a long, long time ago. (via Leapfish)

KKK

"Not Quite Perfect" is a real understatement here. (via <a href="http://failblog.org/2009/01/01/tiny-flaw-big-fail/" target="_hplink">Fail Blog</a>)
"Not Quite Perfect" is a real understatement here. (via Fail Blog)

i.Beat blaxx

Yikes... No matter how many x's you put on there it's pretty obvious what "i.Beat Blaxx" sounds like. (via <a href="http://www.11points.com/Misc/11_Accidentally_Racist_Product_and_Company_Names" target="_hplink">11 Points</a>)
Yikes... No matter how many x's you put on there it's pretty obvious what "i.Beat Blaxx" sounds like. (via 11 Points)

Corkscrew

The addition of "waiter" in this description doesn't really do much good, does it? (via <a href="http://www.bsideblog.com/images/2008/08/crate-barrel.jpg" target="_hplink">bsideblog.com</a>)
The addition of "waiter" in this description doesn't really do much good, does it? (via bsideblog.com)

Nazi Fail

There's something about that daybed that just doesn't sit well with us, but we can't put our finger on it... (via <a href="http://failblog.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/128914914137217939.jpg" target="_hplink">Fail Blog</a>)
There's something about that daybed that just doesn't sit well with us, but we can't put our finger on it... (via Fail Blog)

Black Kid's Desk

"Kid's Desk In Black" would have been a better way to put it, no? (via <a href="http://www.11points.com/Misc/11_Accidentally_Racist_Product_and_Company_Names" target="_hplink">11 Points</a>)
"Kid's Desk In Black" would have been a better way to put it, no? (via 11 Points)

Pizza With A Side Of Racism

A Papa John's customer snapped a photo of her receipt, which contained an <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/07/lady-chinky-eyes-papa-johns-store-uses-receipt-to-call-woman-racial-slur_n_1191434.html" target="_hplink">offensive racial slur</a> in place of the customer's name.

'Best Butt' Discount

One woman was surprised to find that along with her veggie bowl, she received a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/21/best-butt-discount-customer-receipt_n_1819442.html" target="_hplink">discount for having the 'best butt'</a> and being the 'best looking' person in the fast food joint.

Dry Cleaner Gaffe

A customer got quite a surprise when he picked up his freshly-laundered shirts. The anonymous consumer, dubbed <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/27/dry-cleaner-dubs-customer_n_1834484.html" target="_hplink">'Asshole, Alex'</a> apparently had the cleaning bill comped.

Profanity-Laden Receipt

Two Burger King employees were fired after a customer noticed that his <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/17/burger-king-f_ck-you-receipt_n_785143.html" target="_hplink">receipt read 'F*ck You'</a> where it would normally say 'Thank You'.

Bruins Celebrate In Style

After the Boston Bruins won the Stanley Cup, they partied... hard. The team apparently <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/23/boston-bruins-bar-tab-infographic_n_883071.html" target="_hplink">rang up a $156,000 bar tab</a> at a nightclub in the Foxwoods Casino, according to the <em>Boston Globe</em>.

Restaurant Settles Suit Over Racial Slurs

A California steak house settled a lawsuit with a customer that claimed his <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/15/racist-restaurant-receipts_n_1279363.html" target="_hplink">credit receipts contained several racial slurs</a> where his name should have been.

Radio Shack Refund Gets Ugly

A Maryland woman got a little something extra along with her refund when she discovered that an <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/13/radio-shack-receipt-ugly-itch-insults-shanae-lewis_n_1342834.html" target="_hplink">associate deemed her an 'ugly itch'</a> from 'ghettohood, USA'.

Chick-Fil-A In Hot Water

Chick-Fil-A garnered national attention after a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/13/chick-fil-a-ching-chong-r_n_1146266.html" target="_hplink">customer snapped a photo</a> of two receipts that had labeled Asian-American customers as 'Ching' and 'Chong'.

Walmart Customers Find Jesus

A couple claimed their <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/18/jesus-in-walmart-receipt_n_901548.html" target="_hplink">Walmart receipt contained the face of the Son of God</a>.
A couple claimed their Walmart receipt contained the face of the Son of God.

Now THAT'S An Account Balance

An ATM customer found this surprising receipt still in the machine. The receipt, which shows a whopping <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/30/100-million-atm-receipt_n_887993.html" target="_hplink">balance of nearly $100 million</a>, supposedly belonged to hedge fund manager David Tepper.

Server Has Choice Words For Kids

A server at a Chichos Pizza <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/21/high-as-shit-kids-receipt_n_1291724.html" target="_hplink">restaurant labeled his customers</a> as 'high as shit kids'. Fortunately, the customers had a sense of humor and posted the receipt to Reddit to much fanfare.

Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.