Black Panther was one of the biggest movies released this year.
With the film instantly being heralded a classic and spawning the popular catchphrase "Wakanda Forever," it was only right that big brands released merchandise inspired by the film.
Unfortunately for popular retailer Forever 21, their spin on Black Panther-inspired gear came with controversy.
The fashion site came under fire after they shared an image of a Wakanda Forever Fair Isle Sweater worn by a non-Black model.
Fans of the film immediately took to Twitter with questions about the brand's model selection.
Screenshots are forever. @Forever21 .
— This page cannot be reached. △⃒⃘ (@Unaamorcita) December 18, 2018
Y'all really put a COLONIZER in a Wakanda shirt. pic.twitter.com/pnM7BY06yI
I mean...picking the whitest white guy on the planet to wear a Wakanda shirt probably wasn’t the best idea.
— No Ordinary Cat (@InTheLineOfLucy) December 18, 2018
Isn't that she same discount Eminem you put in a Wakanda Forever sweater?..... Yep. pic.twitter.com/JSPKCiqnZ3
— DorianBrooks (@DorianBrooks16) December 19, 2018
Lol wakanda people you got on y’alls marketing team? Cause... this ain’t it @Forever21 pic.twitter.com/KeZR3w9imX
— Khalessi B ♔ (@ahfinebreeze) December 14, 2018
Not even Wakanda can escape gentrification. @blavity @blackpanther @urbanintellectuals @forever21 #forever21 pic.twitter.com/XBwJyyUCk2
— Jesuorobo's Thoughts (@Jesuorobo) December 18, 2018
With backlash mounting on social media, reps from Forever 21 followed up with an apology in a statement to TMZ.
"Forever 21 takes feedback on our products and marketing extremely seriously. We celebrate all superheroes with many different models of various ethnicities and apologize if the photo in question was offensive in any way," the statement read.
The original tweet has since been deleted from Forever 21's Twitter, and an image of the sweater has replaced the controversial pic of the model on the company's website.
(Photo by Dinendra Haria/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
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