A coffee shop in East London has caused offence on social media after a sign outside the store called Ugg boots 'slag wellies'.
Online commenters including columnist Caitlin Moran pointed out the sign, which critics called "sexist" and "awful".
@sophwilkinson pic.twitter.com/ZTs6afDE2m
— Lily Potkin (@MissPotkin) November 11, 2015The sign appeared outside Brick Lane Coffee, the sister shop of Fuckcoffee, which was the subject of controversy last month after its landlords threatened to take it to court over another "offensive" sign.
After a picture of the 'slag wellies' sign circulated on Twitter, Brick Lane Coffee made it clear it wasn't too bothered if people were offended:
Upset by words on a blackboard? pic.twitter.com/Qd6Ppb3J9Q
— comehappy.leave.edgy (@bricklanecoffee) November 11, 2015Times journalist Caitlin Moran tweeted that its sister shop Fuckoffee had also set about "insulting any woman pointing out how horrible it is."
So there's a shop in East London - @fuck0ffee - with this sign, insulting any woman pointing out how horrible it is https://t.co/6KtAYQLaxb
— Caitlin Moran (@caitlinmoran) November 11, 2015Twitter user Lily Potkin commented that she would like the coffee shop to explain "to my kid what qualifies calling women slags", prompting Brick Lane Coffee's sister shop Fuckoffee to step in and mock her concerns:
I'd like you to explain to my kid what qualifies calling women slags. Then explain to yours. Then get in the bin. https://t.co/e8JcIYKTpY
— Lily Potkin (@MissPotkin) November 11, 2015THINK ABOUT THE CHILDREN!!! BAN THIS FILTH!! BAN BAN BAN HYSTERIA BAN! https://t.co/B2CrGKasz7
— Fuckoffee (@fuck0ffee) November 11, 2015But she hit back in her reply as the two accounts began a quickfire spat, in which Potkin claims Fuckoffee's Twitter account called her 'sugar tits':
U ok hun? https://t.co/3nrMRK9fhr
— Lily Potkin (@MissPotkin) November 11, 2015Better than you https://t.co/S2M8ZEZoza
— Fuckoffee (@fuck0ffee) November 11, 2015Sick burn bro. https://t.co/CZtcw13m4O
— Lily Potkin (@MissPotkin) November 11, 2015.@fuck0ffee Mate, you're not remotely interesting. Find another bandwagon to hitch on.
— Lily Potkin (@MissPotkin) November 11, 2015I`m not your mate. My mates have a sense of humour and arent professionally offended.
— Fuckoffee (@fuck0ffee) November 11, 2015You'd have to be professional for that to happen. Mate. https://t.co/PP53tUI9TK
— Lily Potkin (@MissPotkin) November 11, 2015Potkin then posted a screengrab of a tweet she claimed Fuckoffee had sent and then deleted, containing what she called a "lewd reference to my body".
.@fuck0ffee Lost your tweet? WORRY NOT, I have you making lewd reference to my body saved for posterity. pic.twitter.com/QHwkIFMIsw
— Lily Potkin (@MissPotkin) November 11, 2015The chalkboard appeared to have been cleaned in another picture:
@caitlinmoran strangely the board has now been wiped clean... pic.twitter.com/Iz0RwLXmRq
— Marie Wood (@marieannwood) November 11, 2015And Fuckoffee tweeted at Moran with a picture of the sign now appearing to read 'No @CaitlinMorans'.
.@marieannwood @caitlinmoran New sign pic.twitter.com/R9yCR3xtDO
— Fuckoffee (@fuck0ffee) November 11, 2015Others online thought critics of the sign needed to "lighten up" as it was just a joke.
@rachelblundy @MissPotkin @sophwilkinson UNLEASH THE LEGIONS OF THE PROFESSIONALLY OFFENDED!
— Hmmmph (@scepticalists) November 11, 2015@MissPotkin @sophwilkinson We just call normal knee high boot slag wellies round here. Lighten up FFS
— Simon's Hat (@SimonsHat1) November 11, 2015No, @SimonsHat1 there is NOTHING to "lighten up" over sexist language @MissPotkin @sophwilkinson
— nicola branch (@branchenergy) November 11, 2015@branchenergy @MissPotkin @sophwilkinson Yes there is - get over yourself, it's funny.
— Simon's Hat (@SimonsHat1) November 11, 2015Fuckoffee and Brick Lane Coffee are both owned by Adrian Jones.
Earlier this year, Brick Lane Coffee was photographed with a sign outside saying "Sorry no poor people". Jones told The Evening Standard that the words were graffiti.
In October Fuckoffee was told by lawyers that it must remove the "offensive" sign spelling out its name, or face being taken to court.
The managers of the Bermondsey café 'received a legal letter on behalf of their building's landlord - despite the sign having been in place for over a year.
The letter said that unless they "immediately" removed the sign the building owners will remove it themselves or seek a court injunction to have it taken down.
Fuckoffee responded by tweeting a picture of the letter saying "No humour please, we're British".
No humour please, we're British. pic.twitter.com/P1U9VhAEho
— Fuckoffee (@fuck0ffee) October 21, 2015It later agreed to change the shop's name - it is unclear what to - but owner Jones insisted he could "call my shop anything I want".
