One of the things that we may enjoy doing in life is burning candles. We may also burn them for different reasons but often, it is something that makes us feel good and they can smell great as well.
Bath & Body Works is well known for its candles and other products that help you to feel good in such a way. When they released their winter-themed ‘Snowed in’ candle products recently, however, people couldn’t help but notice one thing about the packaging.
It wasn’t long after the candle products were released that people started complaining on social media. After all, they said that the design on the product reminded them of the Ku Klux Klan.
Of course, the American retail company came forward with an apology and said that the similarities were ‘unintentional’ but that didn’t stop people from being upset by what they saw.
The product itself had three wicks and was a winter-themed candle that was supposed to symbolize a paper snowflake. When most people saw the product, however, they saw the white figures on the side of the packaging and said they looked a lot like pointed hoods.
It wasn’t long before people were outraged online and were calling out Bath and Body Works for approving something that should have never been released.
It wasn’t long after that Bath and Body Works discontinued the Snowed in design. Not only did it hit the most popular social media platforms, it also made it on the Bath and Body Works community page on Reddit.
People were saying that they have made a lot of snowflakes in their lives but they never made one with two eyeholes in the point. Other people were calling it ‘The Klan Krismas Kandle.’
Since the complaints came out the candle was pulled from the website and all of the retail locations. They issued an official apology, saying: “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.”
Some people who were able to buy it ahead of time actually ended up selling it on eBay for $350. This was allowed because it was not an explicitly racist design.
According to an eBay spokesman: “eBay policies prohibit listings that include racist terms or language. Any items being marketed using racist language will be blocked or removed.”
The candle didn’t fit that description.
Whether or not they had anything in mind when they designed this candle, it is interesting that it was allowed to pass and made it to the market. Perhaps they really will do better in the future.