This is certainly not the first T-shirt controversy the fashion retail industry has seen. Although Urban Outfitters is usually the biggest offender (ie: The Kent University blood-stained shirt scandal or the “Eat Less” T-Shirt), PacSun has really stirred the pot.

pacsun-controversial-shirt

 image via Twitter

The shirt in question portrays an upside down American flag. In case you did not know (I, admittedly, did not), an upside down flag is a sign of distress. According to U.S. code, “The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.”

Many felt the upside down flag T-shirt was blatantly offensive and disrespectful to our country and those who fought for it. Some shoppers decided to boycott the store and trend #BoycottPacsun on Twitter.

While it seems the majority was incredibly offended at the shirt, many did not care or did not see the problem and wanted to own this controversial garment. A handful of people even supported PacSun’s selling of the shirt saying that America is in distress and the design is rightfully printed.

PacSun pulled the shirt from shelves and the company’s website amidst all of the controversies and large amounts of complaints. People are still complaining that PacSun “gave in” and that the shirt should be sold because it is true that the country is in distress. Others defended the garment with the belief that artistic freedom should prevail.

Some veterans even defended PacSun saying they don’t find it offensive and they do believe America is in distress. Others are still complaining that this removal of the T-shirt was “too little, too late”.

To sum up the story: PacSun did a thing, got a ton of publicity (there’s no such thing as bad publicity!) and there is no way for them to not offend anyone at this point. The damage has already been done and everyone’s still quite salty about it.

Do you agree with PacSun’s decision to pull the shirt from their store?


Paige DiFiore is a Journalism and Graphic Design student at Marist College. She owns enough makeup products to feed a small country (well, if they ate makeup) and she will literally drop everything just to pet a dog. When she isn't daydreaming about owning a pug and making it Instagram famous, she is ruthlessly playing board games and aspiring to someday be the goddess of a religion that's yet to be discovered.

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