Next pulls 'offensive' Christmas jumper after petition calls for it to be removed
Next has pulled a Christmas jumper after a petition was launched calling for it's removal as it was dubbed 'offensive and disrespectful'.
More than 1,500 people signed the appeal demanding that the retailer get rid of the item from its festive range after being outraged by its design.
The petition was launched by Phil Geddes on Change.org, who accused the company of 'contradicting' its promise to be sensitive to the needs and values of shoppers by 'making light of a tragedy'.
The £36 jumper at the centre of the row was described as a 'festive logo men's sweater' on the Next website.
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It featured a blue and white design which surrounded a logo of the former American airline Pan Am.
Residents in the Scottish town of Lockerbie said it was 'disgusting' and 'absolutely shocking' that Next were flogging the jumper just ten days before the 35th anniversary of the horrific bombing which left 270 people dead.
Pan Am Flight 103 ended in disaster after a bomb planted on board erupted on 21 December, 1988, killing all passengers and crew members - as well as 11 Lockerbie residents.
It remains the deadliest terrorist attack in the United Kingdom’s history and its biggest aviation disaster.
Geddes launched the petition to put pressure on Next to remove the Christmas jumper from sale to show that customers will 'not stand for insensitivity towards such grave matters'.
It read: "As a resident of the town at the time of the Lockerbie bombing, an event that has left an indelible mark on the lives of many, hundreds of people.
"It is with this personal experience that I raise my voice against a product currently being sold by Next. This item, in its design or message, is offensive and disrespectful to those affected by this tragic event.
"The Lockerbie bombing was one of the deadliest acts of terrorism in history, claiming 270 lives. The pain and trauma it caused are still felt today by countless individuals around the world.
"To see a product that makes light of such a tragedy or uses it for commercial gain is not only insensitive but also deeply hurtful.
"Next prides itself on being sensitive to its customers' needs and values. However, continuing to sell this item contradicts these values.
"We urge Next to uphold their commitment to respect and empathy by removing this offensive item from sale immediately."
Over 1,500 people have signed the petition, with some saying they had also been personally affected by the tragedy and thought it was an 'absolute disgrace' that the jumper was on the market.
One said: "I worked at the local hospital the night of the Lockerbie disaster and it's as fresh in my mind 35 years later as it was back then. This jumper needs to be taken off the market immediately."
Another wrote: "Pam Am has been out of business since 91, what on earth convinced someone to make a Christmas jumper focused around Xmas and Pan Am, if not to bring about the heartache from the 88 Lockerbie bombing? "Disgusting, absolutely vile. Maybe Google for 30 seconds next time."
Next confirmed they had removed the controversial piece of clothing from sale on Monday afternoon in wake of the backlash.
A spokesperson for the retailer said in a statement: "In response to customer contact, Next removed the ‘ALL + EVERY’ third-party branded items from its marketplace over the weekend. We apologise for any upset caused."
Olivia Burke