Walmart recently found itself caught in a viral frenzy after customers pointed out an unfortunate mistake in one of their t-shirt designs. A Twitter user shared a picture of a green t-shirt, which carried a recycling-positive message. However, it was soon noticed that the placement of the words spelled out an unintended rude word. The shirt has since been removed from sale, with a spokesperson for Walmart explaining that it was only available in Canada.
The t-shirt, part of Walmart’s George fashion label, has been a hit in the United Kingdom but is rarely seen in North America. The Twitter user who initially shared the picture received over 1.3 million views, with thousands of people responding to the post. Some were eager to buy the shirt before Walmart took it down, while others found the situation amusing. Laughter spread across social media, with many users appreciating the hidden word as a bonus to the tree-hugging message.
This incident is not the first time Walmart has faced scrutiny for questionable items. The retail giant previously faced controversy for offensive shirts related to sensitive topics. In response to these incidents, Walmart apologized and swiftly removed the items from sale, emphasizing that they were sold by third-party sellers on their marketplace.
Opinions were divided on whether the shirts should have been removed from the shelves. Some argued that it was a harmless mistake and reflected more on those who saw the offensive word rather than the designer’s intention. Others saw the humor in the situation and felt that the shirts could have remained on sale, perhaps with higher prices, as a quirky collector’s item.
Regardless, the reaction to the offensive t-shirt has been mostly lighthearted banter. People appreciated the straightforward message of the shirt, while others found the entire situation hilarious. Whether intentional or not, it seems that the innocence of the design prevailed for many who saw it.