AMAZON HAS come in for serious criticism after it emerged that the online retailer is currently selling offensive St. Patrick’s Day products.
A t-shirt featuring the slogan “F**k St. Patrick’s Day” is currently available to purchase via the popular shopping website.
Sold as a “Funny Anti St Patricks Day Tee T-Shirt” the listing describes the garment as perfect “for those sick of all the wannabe Irish making excuses for getting drunk.”
It has come in for criticism from the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) who hit out at “the hypocrisy of Amazon claiming to promote diversity and tolerance while selling an item with the self-professed intent of promoting ‘Anti-St. Patrick’s Day’ attitudes.”
Writing in an open letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, AOH National Anti-Defamation Chair Neil Cosgrove said: “During this divisive time in our nation’s history, that Amazon, one of our largest retailers, should seek to profit by promoting intolerance towards any ethnic group and their celebrations is irresponsibly tone-deaf.
“The Ancient Order of Hibernians has previously challenged Amazon on the oxymoron of Amazon prominently virtue signaling on diversity while continuing to pedal offensive, demeaning merchandise targeting the Irish and Irish Americans. However, this latest offering plumbs a new low.
“It was reported that at a November 2016 Amazon employees forum that you, Mr. Bezos, stated, ‘Amazon has always been, and always will be, committed to equal rights, tolerance and diversity.’ The Hibernians find very little of that commitment when Amazon continues to peddle defamation for profit in items emblazoned with ‘F*ck St Patrick’s,’ ‘Drunk O’Meter’ (where ‘Irish’ is labeled as the maximum level of inebriation), or ‘Drink till Your Irish’ to name just a few.
“The unambiguous message of these products is the antithesis of tolerance and diversity. Nevertheless, Amazon continues to sell them and others that promotes intolerance towards the feast day of a Catholic Saint, who was one of the first recorded voices to condemn the evils of slavery, and a day when the Irish and those of Irish descent celebrate their heritage and culture.
“If a commitment to diversity is to have any meaning then respect must apply to all, not just to a few. We challenge Amazon and its apologists to a basic question: Would these items targeting Irish Americans be permitted if another ethnic group replaced ‘Irish’? If the answer is ‘No,’ then these items should be equally prohibited. The Hibernians do not ask that the Irish be treated better than anyone else, but we will not accept them being treated worse.”
Amazon and Bezos have yet to respond to the criticism.
At the time of writing the “F**k St. Patrick’s Day” is still available to purchase online.
