Urban Outfitters have come under fire from US Congressional leaders for selling a collection of controversial St. Patrick’s Day merchandise. A number of t-shirts, hats and accesories featuring slogans such as “Irish Yoga – Downward Facing Upchuck” (featured on a hat complete with the image of man vomiting shamrocks) and “Irish I Were Drunk”. Aside from promoting criminal puns, the US chain has been accused of fueling stereotypes that the Irish, and Irish-Americans are binge-drinking hooligans, most especially when a few floats roll into town.
What do you think? Do you believe that the merchandise is offensive and inaccurate, or a sadly apt reflection on the Irish come March 17th each year?
Image from Urban Outfitters
The clothes are tasteless, they may be a fair enough reflection on st patricks day celebrations but they reinforce stereotypes abroad and like other nations, irish are great at taking the piss out of themselves, but not great at accepting it when others take the piss of them.