Irish People Rally Against Urban Outfitters’ Racist St. Patricks’ Day Merchandise

by Justin Fenner | 2:43 pm, March 1st, 2012

Urban Outfitters is taking a lot of flak from Irish organizations that say its St. Patrick’s Day merchandise defames and debases the entire Emerald Isle as a bunch of drunks. And like the Navajo-themed merchandise that came before it, the t-shirts and other products that inspired this anger may be headed off the shelves.

Irish people from all walks of life have responded to Urban’s Irish-themed product lineup pretty negatively, and some are prepared to wage a full fledged campaign to have the items removed from the store. And with products like a beer growler labeled Leprechaun Piss and shirts that say things like “Kiss Me, I’m Drunk. Or Irish, Or Whatever.” their anger isn’t really all that surprising. Congressman Tim Crowley, head of the Congressional Ad Hoc Committee on Irish Affairs, sent a letter to Urban Outfitters CEO Richard Hayne, asking him, and nicely, to stop selling the products.

“By selling and promoting these items, Urban Outfitters is only fueling stereotypes that many Irish Americans, as well as the people of Ireland, work so hard to dispel.”

“We understand that such items may have been created with the intent of good humor. And, as members of the Ad Hoc Committee on Irish Affairs, we know that Irish and Irish Americans often revel in self-deprecating and blunt humor. However, we believe these items represent a step too far, crossing a line into stereotyping and denigration.”

“We strongly urge you to review your St. Patrick’s Day clothing line and consider its effects on the 35 million-strong Irish American community, as well as its implications for binge drinking. We also hope your review results in the withdrawal from distribution and sale of the items in question.”

But not everyone has been so genteel about getting the products off the shelves. Seamus Boyle, a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in America (it’s the nation’s largest Irish organization), wrote in another letter that he’s ready to organize a boycott if the products aren’t removed post haste.

There are those few who use this day as an excuse to over celebrate but that does not give you or anyone else the right to defame and debase a whole race of people by selling the garbage that you display in your stores.

If this is the way you must make your money by debasing a whole race of people I can assure you that with over 40 million people in this country claiming Irish ancestry they will not be your customers after this display of arrogance and disrespect to a whole nation.

Urban Outfitters has faced those kinds of threats before. Last fall when it started selling an assortment of Navajo-themed products that featured Indian tribal prints, a boycott and lawsuit against the company was organized pretty quickly. In response to the pressure, Urban took down some of the products and renamed others to make them less offensive.

Whether that will happen in this case or not remains to be seen, but what we do know is that the people who source Urban Outfitters’ products should probably take some time off and enroll in some racial sensitivity courses. If they want to stay in business, stuff like this just can’t keep happening. Take a look at a few of the offending products below.

Enable JavaScript to check out our fancy slideshow.

1.Irish I Were Drunk

2.Kiss Me, I'm Drunk. Or Irish, Or Whatever.

3.I'm A Drinker, Not A Fighter

4.Irish Yoga

5.Where Do Leprechauns Come From?

6.Leprechaun Piss

[Irish Central, Fashionista]

Congressman Tim Crowley Irish Pride St. Patrick's Day Urban Outfitters

Elexus

Go back to Ireland and ask the non-derived version of Irishmen what they think of it. I’m going to bet they’re not nearly as offended. They’re too drunk to be offended.

True Americans at heart but when they can complain about something about a past not even their grandparents remember, they will. If you’ve forgotten that the Irish are known for their drinking behavior/habits/skills, you’re obviously very much out of touch with your heritage.
Messtaken

seriously wtf??? what warped sense of Irish people do you have? it’s like stating all Irish people are red haired and freckled or leprechauns are reali! feck off and get over yourself while the clothes wear might not be very offensive your comment is
Ilovecheese

I’m Irish and could care less, but you know I actually have a sense of humor, which apparently has become a rarity.

I should also mention that in March you see shirts like that at pretty much every store. In America, st party’s is celebrated by drinking and having a good time. Lighten up people!
http://www.facebook.com/jespurp jessica elizalde

im irish, this is true!! lmao!
http://www.facebook.com/jespurp jessica elizalde

you mean palestinians?
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=574200848 Kim Vleeshouwers

I asked an Irish friend of mine who moved to Chicago a couple of years back. He said -exactly- the same thing I stated previously. My point is proven.
Anonymous

Too drunk to be offended? Go fuck yourself you fucking tool.
Guesty

So…Urban
Outfitters can sell “Ghettopoly” and appropriate Native American
imagery all they want, but once they make a stereotype about a group of
white people they get a letter from Congress
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=562897032 Lainey Scallan

nicely put
Drea

Smh. I guess it only matters if they’re making a stereotype that pretty much every other merchandiser around this time makes..
http://www.facebook.com/people/Americaphile-Freedom/100001779975742 Americaphile Freedom

AMERICA, DON’T ALLOW THE GAELIBAN TO IMPOSE THEIR DRESS CODE!!!!
http://americaphile.wordpress.com/2012/03/08/dawn-porter-%E2%99%A5-america/
FREEDOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
no

“Irish American” doesn’t just mean 12th gen “Irish” people, immigrants come over here all the time. Also: Urban Outfitters isn’t an Irish person making fun of their own drinking, it’s a bunch of other fucking people acting like they know shit about Irish people. You obviously have no fucking clue how horrible the Irish have been treated over history, or you don’t care.
Irishguy

OK Elexus is a fool and a bit of gob shit as we Irish say…..Irish people are no were near the stereotype a lot of Irish people do not even drink so yes all that merchandise is vary insulting to any one that is irish….and to think that all irish people are like the stereotype is the same as thinking that all Americans are fat lazy unintelligent inbreed mcdonald’s loving ass holes that love Discrimination its not true but I’m guess that Elexus is.
Jlay279

Eh.. have you ever been inside of a Wal Mart?
Dervlaoc

Hi Irish Living in Ireland – I LOVE THESE T SHIRTS!! if you ever been out in Paddy’s Day its a totally gas and everyone has a great time! of Course these shirts are a blantant stereotype but to be honest if you know anyone truly Irish you’ll know we love a good piss take of ourself and this is only for fun! Or if you’ve been to Ireland recently you’ll also know we are all to skint to get this drunk regularly - we leave that to the touristS! PS
Elexus your a complete tool! ahaha no were can I get one of these T Shirts only 33 Weeks to St Patricks DAY!!!

Irish People Rally Against Urban Outfitters’ Racist St. Patricks’ Day Merchandise

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