H&M apologizes for ad showing black child model wearing 'monkey' hoodie

H&M apologizes for ad showing black child model wearing 'monkey' hoodie

H&M has said it's sorry for an online ad with a young black model wearing a hoodie which said "coolest monkey in the jungle" on it.(Photo: RITCHIE B. TONGO, EPA-EFE).

International retail giant H&M has apologized for an ad featuring a black child model wearing a hoodie emblazoned with the phrase "coolest monkey in the jungle."

Social media blew up over the photo of a young boy wearing the green hooded sweatshirt, which had racist undertones.

The online advertisement for the top was for sale in the U.K.

"We sincerely apologize for offending people with this image of a printed hooded top," H&M said in a statement. "The image has been removed from all online channels and the product will not be for sale in the United States.We believe in diversity and inclusion in all that we do and will be reviewing all our internal policies accordingly to avoid any future issues."

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Everyone from celebrities to social-justice experts to comedians chimed in. Tweets ranged form GIFs of head-shaking to adding the letters S, A and E to the retailer's name to spell "Shame."

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