Transport for London (TFL) has found itself in hot water after a 'body-shaming' message was posted on one of its tube station announcement boards.
The message, which read: "During this heatwave please dress for the body you have not the body you want," was posted as the station's 'quote of the day' at Blackhorse Road in north east London.
It may have been intended as a joke but the people of Twitter were anything but amused and took to their keyboards to make their distaste known.
"Way to body shame," said Michael Hawkes, who originally posted an image of the sign on the social networking site.
"I am so very tired of TfL wit and wisdom," commented another user. "Especially when neither is demonstrated."
TFL replied to Hawkes by apologising and saying the message has now been removed.
It posted on Twitter: "Sorry that this was put up at Blackhorse Road. We've flagged it up to the station who've now removed the message. Thanks for letting us know about this."
A TfL spokesperson said: "We apologise unreservedly to customers who were offended by the insensitive message on the whiteboard at Blackhorse Road station.
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"Our staff across the network share messages on these boards, but in this instance the message was clearly ill-judged and it has been removed.
"An investigation is under way to establish who thought such an unacceptable message was a good idea, so that the appropriate action can be taken."
But it's not the first time that TFL has found itself at the centre of a controversy relating to one of its 'QOTD' messages.
Earlier this year, an attempt at a jokey message was written at Colliers Wood Underground station to mark the 100th anniversary of women being given the right to vote in the UK.
The quotes read: "History remembers her as being influential in giving women the right to vote.
"What history doesn't remember is her husband, who didn't get his tea that night!"
Naturally, the message was not well received and was circulated online where it soon went viral.
The photo was tweeted by Evelyn Clegg, who wrote: "Is this supposed to be funny, @tfl? Well this humourless feminist is genuinely appalled.
"Incredibly short-sighted & a waste of an opportunity for celebration."
TFL replied to Clegg's Tweet, apologising for the inappropriate message and said that the incident was being investigated.
Clegg told the Evening Standard: "I'm pleased with their response, but obviously the sign should never have been put up in the first place, and it looks like they need to provide better training for their staff members in diversity and equality.
"I'm sure I'll be accused of 'not being able to take a joke', but humour based on the death of a woman who was fighting for basic equality is completely inappropriate.
"Yesterday was a day for celebration of these brave women, and this sign is so disappointing in its recycling of lazy sexist jokes.
"It could have been used for a positive and educational purpose, so it's a waste of an opportunity as well as being disrespectful."
Featured Image Credit: Twitter
