UO Apologizes to Hindus, Pulls Ganesh Socks From Website

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Socks sucks to be Urban Outfitters right now. The Philly-based retailer has managed, yet again, to offend, this time over a pair of $8 "Urban Exclusive" crew socks featuring a graphic of the Hindu diety Ganesh. "Lord Ganesh was highly revered in Hinduism and was meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not to be wrapped around one's foot," writes President of the Universal Society of Hinduism Rajan Zed in protest to Urban Outfitters. "Inappropriate usage of Hindu deities or concepts for commercial or other agenda was not okay as it hurt the devotees."

The socks have since been pulled from the UO website, and Urban Outfitters has issued following statement: "We sincerely apologize if we offended the Hindu community and our customers. We appreciate Rajan Zed and the Universal Society of Hinduism for bringing this matter to our attention and for helping us understand the cultural and religious sensitivities this product carries. We will remove the Ganesh Socks immediately from our website and stores."
· Urban Outfitters Apologizes for Putting Hindu God on a Sock [Racked National]
· Urban Outfitters' 'Lifestyle Concept' Coming to the 'Burbs! [Racked Philly]