Clothing retailer Gap has apologized for a controversial ad campaign that some said was racially insensitive.
The photo for a clothing line called Gap Kids shows a group of girls in acrobatic poses. The image also depicts a Caucasian girl resting her arm on the head of an African American girl.
meet the kids who are proving that girls can do anything.
— GapKids (@GapKids) April 2, 2016
check out #GapKidsxED: https://t.co/qbR13BsWIL pic.twitter.com/e47gVghHt0
Social media pounced on the image, commenting that the African-American girl was cast as an armrest, Fortune reported.
@GapKids proving girls can do anything... unless she's Black. Then all she can do is bear the weight of White girls. #EpicFail
— Fatima La'Juan Muse (@TheTherapyDiva) April 2, 2016
@GapKids yeah that's cool and all but no one should be resting on anyone's head. Not cool pic.twitter.com/IDhNLc21EO
— Younghoe (@asha7777) April 2, 2016
One Twitter user was quick to point out that the current photo was similar to one used last year but with roles reversed.
Does the @GapKids pic on the left make the pic on the right okay? Let's debate pic.twitter.com/rCFbK4uG5y
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) April 3, 2016
The mother of both girls took to Twitter to explain that they are adoptive sisters.
@TheRoot girl with arm resting on her shoulder is her sister She didn't talk in video because she was 2 shy. everyone needs to calm down.
— Brooke Smith (@Iam_BrookeSmith) April 3, 2016
Gap told Fortune, "As a brand with a proud 46-year history of championing diversity and inclusivity, we appreciate the conversation that has taken place and are sorry to anyone we've offended."
The company plans to remove the offending image.
The advertising campaign promotes GapKids X ED, which is Ellen DeGeneres' line for Gap.
Cox Media Group