Amazon Removes Joe Biden-Themed Clothing Containing Sexist Slur At Kamala Harris
Images via lev radin / Shutterstock.com and Michael F. Hiatt / Shutterstock.com
Kamala Harris stands to be United States’ first female, Black, and Asian-American vice president now that she is running for the 2020 election alongside Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. Unfortunately and inadvertently, her bid for vice president has dredged up some bitter feelings.
Amazon has taken down articles of clothing with offensive messages directed at Harris following several complaints by customers. The garments, listed by seller The Oxygen Bandit, replicated Biden’s campaign branding but read, “Joe and the H**,” the derogatory term rhyming with Biden’s first name and being slang for the word “whore.”
The phrase, made popular after an identical meme made its rounds online, takes aim at Harris’ romance with former San Francisco mayor Willie Brown 25 years ago. A freelance photographer who had also shared the image recently had his contract with the NBA terminated.
Another slogan on merchandise put up by the seller read, “Kamala smelled the best,” referencing accusations that Biden had acted inappropriately in the past.
According to USA Today, the T-shirts, hoodies, tank tops and sweaters sold for US$24.99 to US$42.99.
The insulting clothing sparked furor among social media users. Some threatened to cancel their Prime subscriptions if there was no action on Amazon’s part.
The online marketplace reacted quickly and pulled the garments from its site. A spokesperson also told USA Today, “All sellers must follow our selling guidelines and those who do not will be subject to action including potential removal of their account.”
At the time of publication, it seems that the seller’s account is no longer up on the website, as well.
.@amazon is selling “Joe and the Hoe” shirts. This is a targeted, sexist, racist attack against Kamala Harris..
— Kaivan Shroff (@KaivanShroff) August 19, 2020
PLEASE JOIN ME in demanding that Amazon not only pull this vile merchandise from its store, but also apologize directly to Senator Harris.
(https://t.co/jmSGLw2X4i) pic.twitter.com/5L43YTrCNL
@amazon @AmazonHelp this is disgusting. stop the sales of such merchandise immediately or I'm canceling at least 3 prime accounts immediately and calling for a boycott
— The Lady Red- the night is dark and full of terror (@The_Lady_Red) August 18, 2020
Hey @amazon & @JeffBezos Why are you allowing someone to use your platform to sell a T-Shirt calling Senator Kamala Harris a “hoe?” #DNC2020 #Election2020 #AKA1908 #BlackTwitter pic.twitter.com/y8FJqntLV2
— Keisha (@Hey_MissKeisha) August 18, 2020
I am canceling my prime if this disrespectful Biden Harris merchandise is not removed by 12 pm tomorrow @amazon pic.twitter.com/qTkLjfL8Rk
— gregarious (@mistergeezy) August 19, 2020
Disgusting. I will cancel my Prime membership if they don’t remove these offensive campaign wear
— Arriadna 🗽😷 (@Arriadna) August 18, 2020
Here is the result pic.twitter.com/avW1dUnWa6
— Trump sells Herbalife in my metaverse. 💙💛🐝 (@Cajsa) August 18, 2020
[via USA Today, cover image via lev radin / Shutterstock.com and Michael F. Hiatt / Shutterstock.com]
