Fashion retailer River Island was inundated with complaints after a Twitter user posted a photo of a page from the Really Blokey Jokes book - which contained a joke that made light of domestic violence.
The joke reads: 'A man is watching his wife get beaten up by five men when the police arrive. "Why didn't you help?" asks one stunned copper. "Five seemed enough," the man replies.'
So @riverisland are selling this 'joke book' that makes jokes about domestic violence. pic.twitter.com/oE2tHEj2TH
— Tim Doble (@BetterThanToday) April 13, 2015
River Island issued apologies to users that complained and said they were removing the book from sale.
Several people argued on social media thought that it was just a harmless joke blown out of proportion, but others wondered why the book was allowed to go on sale in the first place.
@Lingonerd @BetterThanToday Hi David, We are sorry if any offence has been caused by this product and have arranged for this to be
— River Island Help (@riverislandhelp) April 13, 2015
@Lingonerd @BetterThanToday removed from sale. We thank you for your valuable feedback.
— River Island Help (@riverislandhelp) April 13, 2015
River Island isn't the only British fashion retailer to be caught up in a sexism storm.
Last November, Topshop was accused of fetishising domestic violence for selling a necklace which featured a woman curled up in the foetal position.
They had partnered with jewellery designer Solange Azagury-Partridge to create four pieces of jewellery to raise money for the organisation Eliminate Domestic Violence.
The designer said the pendant represented 'female empowerment' - but many thought that the figure looked 'weak' and 'vulnerable, and it was eventually removed from sale.
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