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Sainsbury’s to change name of children’s trousers linked to racist slur (uk.news.yahoo.com)

submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by Emperor@feddit.uk to c/andfinally@feddit.uk

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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."

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[–] Phineaz@feddit.org 19 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

I feel like an absolute idiot right now, but how/where is this used as a slur? EDIT: Goodness, no. Nvm, I found it.

[–] Emperor@feddit.uk 10 points 3 months ago

Nigel Farage is said to be trying to buy up the leftover stock.

[–] Zombie@feddit.uk 8 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

I don't understand why the word grow is even in there.

Reinforced knee, hem woven. What is the word grow adding to the description?

Do the trousers grow? Do they expand so children can grow into them?

I don't get it

[–] jmbmkn 4 points 3 months ago

I assume 'grow hem' means that the leg is cut longer that it needs to be but currently hemmed at a shorter length. So that as the kid grows you can let more fabric out and have trousers the right length still.

[–] sem@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 3 months ago (2 children)

I'm so confused.

Is this article saying that 'knee grow' was already in circulation as a circumvention technique before these pants came out?

[–] intensely_human@lemm.ee 5 points 3 months ago

It makes sense when you realize people are idiots

[–] Emperor@feddit.uk 4 points 3 months ago (1 children)

That's what the guy flagging it up says and it makes sense - the racists will try all sorts of things to get around the filters.

[–] sem@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I'm still not sure.

The quote is "Hi @sainsburys @Argos_Online 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?"

Is it possible to tell from context whether the item name was adopted by racists after first seeing it, or whether that part of the item name was already in use? Because the wording itself doesn't specify, it just states that it is used by racists.

Because if it was already in use, then yeah they could have caught that by having some knowledgeable staff.

[–] Emperor@feddit.uk 3 points 3 months ago

Is it possible to tell from context whether the item name was adopted by racists after first seeing it, or whether that part of the item name was already in use?

I don't know how long the trousers have been on sale but assuming this got flagged up quickly (the product makes sense as part of a "back to school" range that tends to launch round about the time everyone breaks up for summer) but the use of "knee grow" online dates back years.

[–] Ilovethebomb@lemm.ee 6 points 3 months ago

I have to read an entire goddamn terms and conditions just to read the article? Yeah, no.