Bath and Body Works' Apology for Ku Klux Klan hoods candle design.
Bath and Body Works has pulled a winter-themed candle, called "Snowed In" from their shelves, after critics pointed out that it looked a lot like a Ku Klux Klan hood.
Bath & Body Works
Bath & Body Works, Inc. is getting some serious backlash over its ‘Snowed In' candle. The critics are saying it looks too much like the hoods and robes worn by the Ku Klux Klan. After a storm of anger on social media, the popular retail chain decided to pull the product from both its website and stores.
A Reddit user sparked a debate by sharing a picture of the candle and commenting, “I get that it’s just a paper snowflake, but I can’t be the only one who sees ‘it,’ right? RIGHT??” The thread got nearly 300 replies, with a lot of them sharing the same ideas. The candle also surfaced on eBay, with one seller listing it for $250. Even though eBay has rules against selling items with racist terms, this candle is still up for grabs because it doesn’t directly use any offensive language.
An Instagram influencer, calling herself a “candle-hoarder,” expressed her dislike for it. Meanwhile, some people came to the design's defense, saying it was just a “school snowflake cutout” and that the backlash was over the top.
Bath & Body Works said in a statement: "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 are evaluating our process going forward."
In 2022, Bath and Body Works faced criticism for featuring Kente cloth designs to celebrate Black History Month. Even though that Bath and Body Works worked with groups like the National Urban League, it faced accusations of cultural appropriation. In reply, Bath and Body Works committed to enhancing its diversity and inclusion efforts, which includes a $500,000 donation to back those initiatives.
Bath & Body Works, Inc. is an American retail company, founded in 1990 in New Albany, Ohio. It's best known for personal care and home fragrances, candles. In August 2021, Bath & Body Works became an independent public company, who generated $7.4 billion in revenue in 2023.
