SYDNEY -- Australian supermarket chain Woolworths has pulled a racist singlet from their shelves, after a Twitter user posted a photo of the worrying merchandise.
Coming in assorted sizes and with an Australian flag emblazoned on the front, a slogan on the shirt reads: "If you don't love it, leave."
George Craig spotted the shirt in Cairns, Queensland and shared a photo on Twitter.
@woolworths cairns, selling racist singlets for everyday low prices! #racist pic.twitter.com/1buKHxifV8— george craig (@heartsR4love) October 12, 2014
Greens' MP Adam Bandt shared the image on Facebook following Craig's post:
Just seen on Twitter: Woolworths in Cairns are reportedly selling these singlets (tweet from George Craig, @heartsR4Love). Divisive and ridiculous -- these should be pulled immediately. Team Bandt.
Australians were infuriated, taking to social media to tell Woolworths how they felt.
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Post by Melody Radford.
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Post by Tertia Sanderson.
Because wearing a singlet wasn't douchy-looking enough: http://t.co/ZJ82bhAp1n— Ryan (@SirRyanR) October 13, 2014
Yet others didn't understand the racist connotations regarding telling people to get out of Australia.
@heartsR4love @woolworths When did loving the Aussie flag become racist/offensive? Those who think it is should refer to singlet's advice.— George Christensen (@GChristensenMP) October 13, 2014
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Post by David Brumby.
Woolworths responded to Bandt, saying the company has pulled the shirt after the angry response from the Australian public.
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Post by Adam Bandt.
Woolworths said the two stores were indadvertedly selling the singlet and it was "totally unacceptable."
The singlet was not one we ordered. It was delivered to us in error and should never been allowed on our shelves. We will review our processes to ensure this sort of error cannot happen again. As soon as we were made aware we immediately withdrew the product from our shelves. The sentiment expressed on the singlet does not reflect the views of Woolworths.
The same shirt is classified by the Victoria Museum as racism promotional material, which was originally sold in Darwin in 2009.
In 2007, this guy wore it to the music festival Big Day Out. This is where it should stay.
Australia's biggest supermarket chain @woolworths selling these racist shirts, yet again http://t.co/nL8NKU6gFY pic.twitter.com/pdrUlNxtVd— The Daily Rupert (@TheMurdochTimes) October 13, 2014