Urban Outfitters Dumps 'Jesus Dress Up' Magnet Sets
(CNSNews.com) - Urban Outfitters has announced it will no longer carry the "Jesus Dress Up" magnet sets and has cancelled an order for 2,500 more after pressure from a pro-family group, which sent a quarter million emails protesting the item.The magnet set depicts Jesus on the cross wearing only briefs and offers a variety of clothes so users can clothe him, including a Satan mask and tights, ballerina and dog-catcher outfit, a "beanie" cap, a snorkel, bunny slippers, tuxedo, and a Dr. Seuss hat.
"Urban Outfitters will no longer carry this item. We will continue to sell the inventory on hand, but have decided not to reorder the item," said Meredith L. Boice, spokesperson for the retail chain.
"We're pleased Urban Outfitters came to the same conclusion we did," said American Family Association chairman Don Wildmon. "Marketing a product insulting to the Christian faith is not a wise business choice."
The Catholic League also weighed in on the issue. William Donohue, president of the Catholic League, was pleased with the retailer's decision to dump the magnet sets.
"On January 13, I wrote to Richard A. Hayne, chairman of Urban Outfitters, Inc., commending him for pulling an offensive shirt that the Anti-Defamation League had protested. The shirt read, 'Everyone Loves A Jewish Girl,' and was surrounded by dollar signs," Donohue noted.
"But I also requested that his company discontinue several items that are offensive to Christians, including those that featured Jesus. It sure took him long enough to do so, but at least he got the message and has not decided to pull this item," he said.
"Perhaps my blasting the company on the MSNBC TV show, 'Scarborough Country,' had something to do with the decision," Donohue added. "But we're not satisfied. That's because the company is still selling some T-shirts of Jesus and Mary that are offensive.
"Thus, we will keep the heat on Urban Outfitters until it starts treating Christians as the equal of Jews and pulls all these T-shirts," he promised.
"It is quite interesting to learn that the guy who created the dress-up Jesus, Bob Smith, went to see 'The Passion of the Christ' dressed as Satan. His complaint that someone threw a cup of soda at him strikes us as a whine. Did he expect a handshake?" Donohue asked.
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