STREAM EXCLUSIVE ORIGINALS

Consumers Still Offended by Abercrombie & Fitch Hoax

Retailer Abercrombie & Fitch has identified a racist, A&F-labeled website as counterfeit.

Abercrombie & Fitch consumers were outraged when they saw a website with the A&F logo selling racist merchandise, but the company is claiming the website is bogus and has forced the fakers to shut it down.

The website ignited panic across the Web Thursday when the link, claiming to be an A&F “outlet,” had what they called “N----r Brown Pants” for sale.
Sources say that perhaps the site's Chinese owners relied on a very bad Chinese-English translation program, such as in 2007 when a Black Toronto couple found a tag on their Chinese imported couch that also said "n----r brown." Either way, the retailer is still facing heat. 

 

In response to the website, an A&F spokesperson told TMZ, ”We do not condone racist language. This is a counterfeit website and we have initiated legal proceedings to shut it down.”

The fake site is no longer available online and reportedly had a China registration, but that didn’t stop Twitter users from coming down hard and even poking fun at the retailer for the fake description.

@Toysldrs tweeted, “RT @Abercrombie: We apologize to all offended by that fake site. We love black people. Infact 2 of our friends are black.”

“If you didn't already know @Abercrombie was racist then I don't know what to tell you,” @Incilin broadcasted.

Users are sensitive to the Abercrombie website for past infractions.

In 2004, nine former employees, who claimed they were fired, sued the company because they said they were asked to work in back storage rooms or put in overnight shifts because they didn’t fit the “Abercrombie look” to work in the front of the store during regular business hours.

Years later, in 2009, then-law student Riam Dean sued the company claiming her bosses made her work in a stockroom because she had a prosthetic left arm that didn’t fit the company’s “look policy.”

Last year, in an effort to remove links to websites selling counterfeit goods, a federal judge in Nevada ordered Facebook, Google, Twitter, Yahoo and Microsoft to remove links to fake sites from their systems. Fake websites promoting racist propaganda, intentionally or unintentionally, can too often be found. 

To report a fraudulent or offensive website, fill out a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center, a partnership between the FBI and Bureau of Justice Assistance, here.

BET National News - Keep up to date with breaking news stories from around the nation, including headlines from the hip hop and entertainment world.

(Photo: Courtesy Vibe.com)

Latest News

Subscribe for BET Updates

Provide your email address to receive our newsletter.


By clicking Subscribe, you confirm that you have read and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers) and other information from BET and the Paramount family of companies. You understand that you can unsubscribe at any time.