US clothing chain Forever 21 has apologised and pulled an item from their website after a backlash.
The garment in question? A knit sweater emblazoned with a black panther motif and the words WAKANDA FOREVER.
Modelled by a white dude who looks like he saw a picture of circa-1996 Eminem and decided to go for the “throwback” vibe.
this sweater just called 311 because Shuri's making too much noise in her lab pic.twitter.com/Npd7nxwhJP
— Desus Nice (@desusnice) December 18, 2018
Do we really need to explain how simple it would have been to just… not?
t'chad out here trying to open a cat cafe in wakanda
— old town chode (@dr_cheah) December 18, 2018
@Forever21 really got the palest person they could find to model a Wakanda Forever sweater. I'm crying. https://t.co/0ycedJ2eI6
— Izuku Marcdoriya (@Lyracet90) December 18, 2018
Do we really need to explain why Black Panther is not just like any other Marvel movie?
My nine year old daughter actually cried when she thought T'Challa was dead. I have never seen her care so much about a fictional character. Anyone who takes issue with this movie is so fucking warped in the head.
Wakanda = Paradise for people who look like me.
— Militia Thee Supreme ??♀️ Goddess From Hell ? (@TheWitchMilita) March 4, 2018
Do we really need to explain how meaningful the idea and aesthetics of Wakanda – a powerful African nation with no history of colonisation by Western Europeans – was to so many black people around the world?
Black Panther last night was wonderful!
At the end of the film everyone clapped, and lots cried with me.
Imagine a world where there was just ONE place where black people thrived like Wakanda!
The tears came because I’ve not seen that world, not even on screen. Until last night.— △Tanya Loretta Dee △ (@TanyaLorettaDee) February 15, 2018
Do we really need to explain that white people are totally allowed to enjoy things, and wear Black Panther merch, and love Black Panther movies, but maaaaaaybe, just maybe, it would have been a better choice to market this corny Marvel Christmas sweater using a model of colour, just for funsies?
Apparently, we do need to explain all those things at least one more time.