Bath & Body Works has publicly apologized after one of their candle designs sparked controversy due to its alleged resemblance to a Ku Klux Klan hood. The candle, part of a limited-edition collection, caused outrage on social media after customers pointed out its similarity to the iconic white hood worn by the KKK. The company quickly responded, expressing regret and stating that any resemblance was unintentional.
In their apology, Bath & Body Works emphasized their commitment to inclusivity and diversity, noting that they did not intend to offend or cause harm with the design. They also announced the immediate withdrawal of the product from shelves and online stores, promising to review their design processes to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The candle quickly went viral on social media. On Wednesday, a Reddit user posted an image of the candle, asking, “I know it’s one of those paper snowflakes, but I can’t be the only one who sees ‘it,’ right …. RIGHT??” The commenters all agreed. One user on X said, “wait, how the fuck did nobody at bath & body works clock the klandle.” This design surely made it past many people but somehow landed on shelves. Less than 48 hours later, the candle was pulled from the site and all stores and the company issued an apology. In a statement provided to the Cut, a Bath & Body Works spokesperson said, “At Bath & Body Works, we are committed to listening to our teams and customers, and committed to fixing any mistakes we make — even those that are unintentional like this one. We apologize to anyone we’ve offended and are swiftly working to have this item removed and evaluating our process going forward.”
Some social media users assumed the mistake was the result of a lack of diversity in Bath & Body Works’ marketing team.
“This sort of thing can easily be prevented by hiring the so-called ‘DEI’ candidate,” one X user wrote.
“Your lack of diversity in the workplace shows exactly why the candle got approval,” another X user wrote.
“How did that design even make it to shelves? This isn’t just a branding mistake; it’s a reminder of how sensitive cultural symbols can be,” another X user wrote.
Bath & Body Works was funded in 1990 and became an independent public company in Aug. 2021. It currently has more than 1,850 company-operated Bath & Body Works locations in the U.S. and Canada, according to its website.
The situation highlights the sensitivity of product design and the potential for unforeseen interpretations, especially in a time when brands are increasingly being held accountable for cultural and social awareness.
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