After an influx of bad reviews and criticism, Amazon removed an advertisement featuring a white model selling pro-Black clothing.
The swimsuit sold by the company ZBBRDD utilized a white model despite the phrase “hella BLACK hella PROUD" emblazoned on the front. Amazon was made aware by Twitter user @SeekersMgmt, who raised concerns about misrepresentation in a tweet posted Friday.
Dear @amazon this is a misrepresentation of an African American woman please update your site with a model with the correct melonin, please and thank you @KamalaHarris
@BarackObama
@CoryBooker
@50cent
@tylerperry
@alroker
@fox5ny
@CBS
@NBCNews
@SteveHarveyFM
@NBCNews
@CNN
pic.twitter.com/7Fh6B0lb2p— DreamSeekersTalentMgmt (@SeekersMgmt) July 19, 2019
According to HuffPost, the same stock model has also been used for bathing suits with phrases like “dope” and “Brazilians do it better.”
Twitter users also pointed out the swimsuit was similar to another company's products. All Dem Shades is a Black-owned clothing company with very similar clothing designs.
????SPRING just got HOTTER ???? #AllDemShades celebrates ALL ???????? dem ???????? sizes! Our Spring Midi’s are RESTOCKED in sizes S-3XL!
.
.
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#BlackPride
#BlackOwned
#blackgirlmagic
#BlackGirlsAreLit
#blackgirlsrock
#melanin
#melaninpoppin
#supportblackbusiness
#blackisbeautiful
#WCW
#WCE
pic.twitter.com/7esMm1r8f9— All Dem' Shades (@alldemshades) March 21, 2018
The glaring similarities only added to the controversy. One Amazon customer review accused the company of cultural appropriation.
"First, let’s address the model in this picture, would it have been too hard to actually find someone who's actually 'Hella black and Hella proud!!'," the Amazon user wrote.
"And maybe from the Bay Area because that's where the term Hella originated. We just can't have anything as a culture huh?"
Prior to the outrage, the swimsuit was still available to buy on Amazon. However, as of Saturday morning, the ad has been removed and customers can no longer access the link.
In 2017, Zazzle had an identical problem where a white model was used to sell T-shirts with the phrases “nappy,” “angry black woman” and “black girl magic.”