FACT CHECK: Is H&M Selling A ‘Koolest Kid In The Klan’ Sweatshirt?
An image shared on Facebook allegedly shows the clothing retailer H&M selling a “Koolest Kid in the Klan” sweatshirt on its website.
Verdict: False
There is no indication H&M has sold the pictured sweatshirt. In a statement to Check Your Fact, H&M Media Relations confirmed the image is “fake.”
Fact Check:
The image shows what appears to be a screen grab of the H&M website showing a young boy modeling a hooded sweatshirt with the words “Koolest Kid in the Klan” printed across the front. The post suggests that the pictured sweatshirt can be purchased for $24.99 on the site.
However, there is no indication H&M has actually offered the “Koolest Kid in the Klan” sweatshirt as an item for sale. No product featuring the phrase appears on H&M’s website. Check Your Fact also didn’t find any national or local media reports about the clothing retailer selling the sweatshirt.
H&M Media Relations provided Check Your Fact an emailed statement about the alleged sweatshirt, along with a link to an article about the company’s inclusion and diversity initiatives. (RELATED: Were Members Of ‘The Squad’ Pictured Wearing Clothing With Swastikas?)
“This is a fake photo,” the statement from H&M reads. “We were upset and sad to see this as it goes against everything we stand for. To us, inclusion and diversity is key to the success of a global company and during the past year we have put extra focus on this.”
The image of the fake “Koolest Kid in the Klan” sweatshirt appears to date back to at least January 2018, when it was posted on the website Imgur. In January 2018, H&M received criticism for a photo on its website that featured a black child wearing a sweatshirt with the phrase “Coolest Monkey in the Jungle,” according to the Washington Post.
H&M later apologized for the “Coolest Monkey” photo, saying in a statement to The New York Times, “We are deeply sorry that the picture was taken, and we also regret the actual print. Therefore, we have not only removed the image from our channels, but also the garment from our product offering globally.”
