Clothing company discontinues surfer shirt that accidentally evoked lynching

"[This item] has zero relation to anything other than surfing"

Published March 17, 2015 8:05PM (EDT)

Clothing manufacturer Tavik have caved into pressured to cease the production and distribution of a shirt featuring the words "Hang loose" and a noose after the picture began circulating on the Internet and gaining stunningly predictable criticism. As of Tuesday afternoon, the shirt was still on sale on Amazon.com.

The initial outrage began when Twitter user @PsychoGF_ posted a picture of the shirt on sale in a TJ Maxx.

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"We sincerely apologize for any offense caused by this T-shirt," said Tavik's PR manager Kelly McElroy in a statement. "This item was released without going through proper protocols and has zero relation to anything other than surfing. We will be pulling this item from retailers immediately."

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TJ Maxx has not yet responded to request for comment from the Washington Post. 

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By Joanna Rothkopf

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Amazon Bad Ideas Hang Loose Lynching Suicide Tavik Tj Maxx