H&M Model's Family Forced To Move For 'Security Reasons' After Protests Over 'Monkey' Shirt

ashley.rae | January 17, 2018
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If you thought the outrage over H&M’s seemingly innocuous “coolest monkey in the jungle” sweatshirt couldn’t get more out-of-hand, you would be wrong.

Just days after protesters in South Africa trashed H&M stores across the country in protest against the “oppression” shown by a black child modeling a shirt with the word “monkey” on it, the mother of the child in the ad told the BBC that her family has been forced to move from their home due to “security reasons.”

Speaking to BBC Outside Source, mother Terry Mango said the family has had to move from their home in Stockholm, Sweden due to “security reasons,” partially stemming from the protests seen across South Africa.

Speaking to This Morning, the model’s father explained the family no longer has a “normal family life” because of the uproar.

It is unclear if the family has received any threats as a result of the ad or whether the move was out of caution.

Despite the protests in South Africa allegedly standing up against racism, Mango defended her original position that the ad with her son was not meant to be racist.

Mango said, "I respect other people's opinion on the issue. I know racism exists, but does the shirt to me speak racism? No it doesn't.”

Previously, Mango defended the ad campaign on social media by telling people to “stop crying Wolf all the time, unnecessary issue.”

In fact, Mango’s own Instagram account, where she posts photos of her son, uses the word “jungle” in its name. 

H&M has issued multiple apologies for the shirt. They have also appointed a “global leader” on the issue of inclusiveness in order to try to ask for forgiveness.

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