A graphic tee from a Philippines store making light of rape was discontinued after serious backlash the store received on social media.
The faded red tee in SM Supermalls read, "it's not rape, it's a snuggle with a struggle."
An image of the t-shirt went viral after writer Karen Kunawicz posted it with a message on her Facebook page reading:
"Really SM Department Store? In the boy's section? 'It's Not Rape, It's A Snuggle With A Struggle?' SM--the same mall that has the daily angelus and refused to show Tim Burton's "Sweeney Todd" in the cinemas? Boys listen to Tita Karen--if a girl says NO and pushes you away, just err on the side of caution, she likely means NO. And go watch "Sweeney Todd." WTF, SM."
Since she posted it two days ago the post got over 4,000 shares and over 1,600 likes.
Almost immediately, SM removed the shirt from stores and posted this statement on Twitter:
Statement on t-shirt incident. pic.twitter.com/DqFC2ksFTN
— SM Supermalls (@smsupermalls) September 22, 2014
Update on t-shirt statement. pic.twitter.com/cDTPamPC1e — SM Supermalls (@smsupermalls) September 23, 2014
However, people were still expressing anger at the situation through tweets, saying the apology wasn't enough:
@smsupermalls an apology will never make for the way you promoted the rapist and trivialised the victim. Your store is lowest of the low. — Jillian D. Anderson (@TudorTears) September 24, 2014
@smsupermalls This T-shirt should NEVER have got into the stores in the first place. Who the HELL approved that?!
— Kiri Forster (@Kizmo51) September 24, 2014
@smsupermalls The fact that your company produced such a t-shirt speaks volumes about your values and beliefs. — Zara Ramaniah (@zramaniah) September 23, 2014
@smsupermalls This "rape t-shirt" is offensive and downright stupid! Whoever supplied the shirt must be a rapist/pervert!
— Jose Ma. Imperial (@jmrimperial) September 23, 2014
.@smsupermalls you dont even know the shirts you stock in your stores? Wow such management. — Kari Cross✝ (@ponponwei) September 22, 2014