An advert for a pair of school trousers has been deleted by Argos after social media users complained the name of the product was linked to a slur used by racists.
The two-pack of “grey reinforced knee grow hem woven trousers” for seven-year-olds has connotations to a slur frequently used by racists, according to X user Esheru Kwaku.
In his post, directed at Argos and Sainsbury’s, which acquired the company in 2016, Kwaku wrote: “Hi @sainsburys @Argos_Online I know you’re the same company, are you aware that the item name below is freely used by racists to by pass n-word filters?
“May I suggest renaming the item. Also maybe a few black faces in the decision making process, to avoid this in the future.”
A spokesperson for Tu, the own-brand clothing label from Sainsbury’s, apologised and confirmed to Yahoo News UK that the product will be renamed following the criticism.
They said: “We’re truly sorry for the upset this has caused. We have listened to the concerns which have been shared and are urgently updating the product labelling."
I feel like an absolute idiot right now, but how/where is this used as a slur? EDIT: Goodness, no. Nvm, I found it.
If it makes you feel any better it took me waaaaay too long too.
For others who can’t figure it out, like myself for too long: “knee grow” when spoken is “negro”
I literally never would have made that connection
Me neither, but that is probably something that should have been realized is an unfortunate name when said out loud.