London — NBA star LeBron James, Diddy, The Weeknd and other artists have responded with outrage to an advertising image by retailer H&M showing a black child in a sweatshirt with the words "Coolest monkey in the jungle."
The retailer has apologised and removed the image as well as the sweater from retail, but not before the ad was widely challenged on Tuesday on social media as being racist and inappropriate.
James posted a refreshed image showing the model wearing a crown. Alongside the edited image he wrote a note addressed to H&M saying the clothing brand got it all wrong.
"We as African Americans will always have to break barriers, prove people wrong and work even harder to prove we belong but guess what, that's what we love because the benefits at the end of the road are so beautiful!"
SEE THE PIC HERE:
Diddy posted an image with the sweatshirt revised to read "Coolest king in the world." He added a captiong saying, " Put some respect on it."
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Singer The Weeknd, who has a clothing line at the retailer, says he was "shocked and embarrassed" by the photo and that he would end his ties with the company.
SEE THE TWEET HERE:
The Swedish-based company released a statement apologising and agreeing that the photograph as well as the sweater were a huge mistake.
READ THE FULL STATEMENT HERE: