Old Navy Cans Irish T-Shirts

February 8, 2011 10:09 AM

T-Shirt Removed From Old Navy’s Catalogue (credit: CBS 2)

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NEW YORK (CBS 2) – There’s outrage over t-shirts that some say unfairly stereotypes the Irish.

Two t-shirts are no longer being sold in Old Navy stores. One reads “Irish I was drunk,” and the other reads “Party like you’re Irish’ with Snoopy holding a mug that says root beer.

Reaction to the t-shirts was mixed.

“I could definitely see how some people could be offended. I’m not personally offended by it,” said Kristin O’Leary.

“Can’t you find another way to sell t-shirts than intimating they’re all drunks?” complained Keith Wilson of the Bronx.

When CBS 2 contacted Old Navy’s parent company Gap about the shirts, a spokeswoman said: “We recognize these t-shirts went too far and we sincerely apologize to the Irish community for any offense caused. We are removing all units from the stores and online as soon as physically possible.”

Do you find the shirts offensive? Do you think Old Navy did the right thing pulling the product off their shelves? Let us know below!

COLLEEN

I am also Irish-American, approx 1/4 Irish (mother’s maiden name Doyle), & I also think it’s ridiculous that they have to take such an innocent shirt(s) out of their inventory line. I visited Ireland a couple years ago, and I am pretty confident that most Irish would not be offended!

All Irish

1/4 irish? Are you trying to tell us you have 3 fathers?
Niamh

You are not Irish.

SparkyP

Unless you’re a straight white christian male, there’s always going to be someone who wants to make fun of parts of a culture they dont understand or are traditionaly stereotyped within that culture, lifestyle or religion. real or not..

When people keep passing off bigotry as humor, eventually people start to believe it.. thats when it becomes offensive

Paddy O’Chair

I know lots of hilarious humor about WASP males, particularly in a church setting. People really have to lighten up, honestly. Of course bigotry is no good, but we ought to be able to laugh at ourselves a little, not take things quite o deeply or seriously.
Charline B.

I think we know what the “P” stands for, Sparky….
kcv

Intelligence will always be met with severe ignorance…well said Sparky!
This is a country of excuse makers and we love to say “well they did it too”….that does not make it right. I am 37 and have NEVER heard a WASP or “white christian male” joke from someone who was NOT “white, christian and male”. But, I’ve definitely heard many white, christian males make blonde women jokes, women jokes,minority jokes, cultural jokes, etc. The first comment is “Oh you’re too soft, too PC”…no we’re just human and care for those surrounding us, not just those that look like us. I’m sure someone said “Oh, you’re too soft” when someone protested lynchings and the holocaust!

offendedandsuing

lawsuit in 3,2,1…..
NYPDBAGPIPER

Seems to me there is a thin veneer of people out there who merely “talk” of some people who MIGHT be offended. Then out of a burst of ridiculous paranoia and political correctism, a corporation reacts. The end result? Clothing and money being wasted in these times of woe and want, and damage to the bottom line when we desperately need our businesses to thrive. We as Americans need to be a little more thick-skinned, those of us of all races.

Tommy O

I’d like to think that much like the Jets AFC Champions gear, these tshirts end up in some poor third world country going to the needy.

Somewhere out there, some poor child in Hati will soon be running around with a “IRISH I Was Drink” tshirt.

http://9thaveuedesign.googlepages.com Tom Levier

If every other ethnic group can whine every time they feel they’ve been maligned, why should we ask Irish folk to “lighten up” when they have a complaint about how they’re stereotyped in our culture?

doug

The Irish wouldn’t complain!!!
They would do some bare Knuckle boxing first!!!

Alex

how stupid. im part irish but i think they’re funny. the snoopy one is soo cute, i would so love to have one. but i guess that’ll never happen….stupid tighta@#$!
Maureen

This is ridiculous. I’m Irish, I love Snoopy, & I like celebrating St Patrick’s Day, just like everyone else. What a bunch of bull.

Get a sense of humor people.

Oh, I’m also short & blond… guess I HAVE to have a sense of humor.
Paul

Well, I like the Snoopy shirt. If you don’t like them, I suggest you don’t buy them. Most manufacturers understand the lack of sales as an indicator of disapproval.
UplandMeerkat

Foolishness. I’m Irish-Canadian and an HR person AND… I actually bought one of those shirts with the intent of wearing it to work on St. Patty’s day. lol

People are way too uptight!

abroadabroad

I.m a Canadian woman, love St. Patty’s Day (though I’m in living in Mexico, will be wearing the green… Too right! Folks are far too uptight!
Caitlin

Well, anyone who speaks of “St. PATTY’S Day” is probably so far from his roots that he drinks green beer and wears sparkly antennae. “Patty” is an American female nickname. You’re changing the saint’s gender. His birth name is Patricius, the Irish is Padriag, and the anti-Irish Nativists called every Irishman “Paddy” even if his name was Jeremiah. Go ahead – preseve a racist stereotype.

socalgal

Sad we have to whitewash everything now in case some media humping snowflake will look to make an issue about it; Oh, wait – I’m WHITE – that was offensive. I guess we had better take the word whitewash out of the dictionary.
jtorres

If the t-shirts offended you, you shouldn’t buy them. People take polical correctness way too far. You’re not follically-challenged — you’re bald. I’m not vertically-challenged or un-tall – I’m short. Grow up and stop being so sensitive. It’s a JOKE. Get it?

snoopylover

I absolutely agree. If they were to ban any clothes that offend somebody, we might all have to be naked….how offensive would that be…lol. Snoopy is so cute and drinking Rootbeer…..who doesn’t like Snoopy and Rootbeer…Just saying

Kevin

We all are drunks. Let’s just admit it… I had a tear run down my cheek at the thought of those 3 bottles of Jamesons fallling off the bar in Timmy O’Mally’s tale. Ruined my whole day…
Micha

Man, I wanted to get this shirt for my uncle- he would have loved it(but then, he also has a sense of humor)
Joshua

It’s ok as long as they don’t get behind the wheel…
Trish

I suspect only the Irish buy those shirts. If Old Navy discontinues them, the Irish will certainly find their “Irish pride” tee shirts elsewhere. The Irish won’t lose but Old Navy will.

AmberP

I”m not Irish and I bought one. All for the love of partying on St. Patrick’s Day!!! Go Irish!

Timmy O’Mally

As an irishmen, I take great offense to these stereotypes portrayed upon us. Why, just the other morning at O’hallan’s Pub, I was telling Paddy the Cop and O’Leary the fireman over a few pints of guiness the story about how a few hours prior a guy from london came in and wouldn’t shut up about the royal wedding, leaving me no choice but to get into a fight with him.

O’Leary replied, “well, I wouldn’t expect any less of you, being from County Cork, and all”

In our ensuing melee, 3 bottles of Jamesons were knocked off the bar, proving that it is the prods which are at fault for our trouble, and it is they, whom surely staff the boardrooms and silkscreen facilities of Old Navy.

jtorres

Hilarious
Chris G

Well said Timmy!!! Céad Míle Fáilte!
Murphy

I’ll drink to that

The Good Samaritan

My husband is Irish, and he is drunk a good amount of the day. Who cares?

The Good Samaritan has Spoken.
banana

I often wonder if people that claim to be offended by this stuff are really offended. It seems silly to me, but I guess when you wear a shirt you are subjecting everyone who can read it to its message.
Chale Brannan

I’m Irish American too, Offensive does not mean untrue, stereotypes are generally based on a common perception. The Irish are commonly perceived as party people, what’s wrong with that?

Tommy

Read the shirt. Snoopy clearly has Root Beer in his mug. Its misreprentative of the people. It would be like having a shirt with a picture of an italian woman on it, and airbrushing her moustache out.

Caitlin

Stupid remarks about ANY race/ethnicity/religion are offensive to everyone. This is the kind of garbage spoted by 14 year olds on the subway. Grow up.

Ed

Next you wont be able to say the Pope is Catholic!
JEANNE

TIRED OF POLITICALLY CORRECT … MY KIDS COULD TAP BUT NOT BALLET – IT HAS TO DO WITH THE GERMAN MARCHING GENE! LIGHTEN UP PEOPLE.
Pinz

Deal with it. I’m German and people always think I hate Jewish people.
Fred W.Moriarty

I am Irish American and I am not offended by drunken Irish jokes.I was a drunk myself till 20 years ago as 99% of Irish decent are,starting with Kennedys.
Vic

Wassamater? The truth hurts?! Let’s see how sad the offended are on St. Pat’s Day or any happy hour in a bar on any day of any week. Puhleeze.

tom mc

Guinea all smell like garlic

Vic

Better garlic then puking all over yourself and someone’s front yard on St. Pat’s Day or any given day. Deal with it, McDrunk.

DanTe

I have yet to see a sober Irish. Have you?

todd o

when the last time you saw your mother sober

Paddy O’Chair

Well, I’m about 85% Irish – grandma was born in Dublin – and I rarely drink, and at that only a glass or two. But golly, some of my best jokes are Irish drinking jokes. People are so thin-skinned these days it makes me wonder how they get through the day without melting into a puddle of outraged tears. I’d love to have the Snoopy shirt, I wonder if it was properly licensed?

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Old Navy Cans Irish T-Shirts

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