Woolworths says a singlet showing a picture of the Australian flag with the slogan “If you don’t love it, leave” was against their policy of “doing the right thing”.
It was withdrawn from sale after images of the shirt appeared on social media on Monday.
Pls RT @woolworths I'm outraged that #WOOLWORTHS are allegedly selling these bigoted singlets at their Cairns stores pic.twitter.com/0GVwscbpuK
— Mariam Veiszadeh (@MariamVeiszadeh) October 13, 2014
Twitter users said the shirts were being sold at a store in Cairns.
.@woolworths, why is your Cairns store dabbling in race hate and extreme nationalism? pic.twitter.com/WfrSLEGXk0
— Jarah Crook (@jarahcrook) October 13, 2014
pic.twitter.com/TrjXLsXXKm @woolworths in cairns reportedly selling #racist singlets #everydaylowpriceseverydayracism
— Ruth Allen (@rallenportmac) October 13, 2014
Woolworths did not directly answer questions from Guardian Australia about which stores had stocked the singlet, why they were ordered or how many were sold.
Instead it issued a statement which said the singlets had been pulled from shelves.
“It has come to our attention that two Woolworths stores were inadvertently stocking a singlet that we consider totally unacceptable,” the statement said.
“The singlet was not one we ordered. It was delivered to us in error and should never have been allowed on our shelves.”
Woolworths processes were being reviewed to make sure it could not happen again, the statement said.
“The sentiment expressed on the singlet does not reflect the views of Woolworths.
“Woolworths has a policy of ‘Doing the Right Thing’ which means we believe in fostering an environment where everyone is treated with dignity, courtesy and respect.”
The shirt was described on social media as racist and the error as appalling.
Honestly Tweeps. It's way past time to boycott #Woolworths. This is appalling. http://t.co/w7PB5U7bHH via @SBSNews cc @woolworths #auspol
— Ros (@roshart) October 13, 2014
#Woolworths pulls #racist Aussie singlet from shelves after backlash http://t.co/UkDUK05CwU
— Natasha Christian (@oimisschristian) October 13, 2014
In January, Aldi was forced to apologise and remove T-shirts from its Australia Day range which said “Australia Est 1788”. The shirts drew criticism for apparently disregarding the existence of an Indigenous population.
