Parents Of Five-Year-Old In 'Racist' H&M Advert Have Protected Him From The Backlash

The parents of the five-year-old model pictured in the H&M advert that sparked controversy due to the slogan on his hoodie have said they’ve protected him from the global backlash.

Terry and Frank Mango, from Stockholm, Sweden, have moved out of their family home after the controversy. They said their son Liam has seen his photo on the internet, but sees it only as a positive thing.

“People should understand that we have children and we have an obligation to protect our children,” said Frank on ITV’s ‘This Morning’ on 15 January.

Terry added: “If I had a way to take this off I would take it off today. My son is very young. He’s not really aware of what’s happening. He’s aware that he’s a superstar and he believes people love him for his modelling job.”

ITV/ThisMorning

After the interview, five-year-old Liam - who hadn’t been aware of the previous line of questioning - came into the studio.

When asked what he liked about modelling he replied: “I do. I’m nice and I’m a model.”

Prior to Liam’s arrival on set, his parents discussed the backlash against the photo of Liam in the H&M hoodie that features the slogan: “Coolest monkey in the jungle”.

Liam is part of a modelling agency in Sweden, and H&M is a client of that agency. His parents always attend his photoshoots as he is a minor.

However, with the amount of shoots he does and the number of clothes he wears per shoot, the parents said it was very hard to remember the particular moment he was modelling the hoodie in question.

When asked if they would “see alarm bells” if they did see him modelling that specific top, Terry replied: “Not for me, I wouldn’t see such a connection to anything other than my son modelling. When the controversy came out, you look back and wonder what your initial response would be.

“It’s not an overreaction when it comes to racism, everybody should act on their own opinions of what racism is.”

Terry explained she has had racist remarks directed at her in the past, including being “called a monkey on the cruise ship”.

She added: “But the top... I am looking at a black young boy modelling a top with the word monkey on it.”

‘This Morning’ is on ITV on weekdays from 10.30am.

Before You Go

Yes, You CAN Make A Family Walk Fun

Don't say 'who wants to go for a walk?'(01 of08)

Reframe a walk so it's enticing and exciting using words like explore, play, adventure.Who wants to climb a castle or who wants to find some treasure or skim stones? (credit:Alexander Nicholson via Getty Images)

Don't plod in a straight line - and back again.(02 of08)

Choose a wiggly walk and terrain made for adventuring. "It's all about keeping children's minds off putting one foot in front of another," says Clare Lewis. (credit:Stephen Lux via Getty Images)

Always have an appealing destination - and make pit-stops along the way.(03 of08)

It could be a café with their favourite hot chocolate or their 'secret' place like a climbing tree. Make regular stops to admire natural curiosities, make a den, whittle a stick or play in water or whatever you fancy. Encourage your kids to take photos. Clare Lewis's family always take 'scroggin'; a New Zealand name for a hikers' mix of nuts and seeds, dried fruit and chocolate to keep energy levels up. (credit:ArtMarie via Getty Images)

Join forces with another family or get the kids to bring their friends.(04 of08)

Children love the sociability of a walk and bringing friends increases their activity as they challenge each other to jump the highest or widest, splash in puddles, climb trees or find the best stick. (credit:Alistair Berg via Getty Images)

Walk together in a chatty clod, not a single line with you barking 'come on, keep up'(05 of08)

There may be times you have to walk in a line, but take turns with who's the leader. Also, let your children choose the route (within reason!). (credit:Bounce via Getty Images)

Play games as you go.(06 of08)

Hide-and-seek, capture the flag or ambushes - sending kids on ahead so they can jump out on you - are all favourites. Bring a ball or a Frisbee to play with too. (credit:JLPH via Getty Images)

Turn your walk into a treasure hunt. Or an obstacle course.(07 of08)

Children love places to clamber over like a rocky beach or challenges like climbing trees or jumping over streams. Challenge children to touch that tree and run back, hopscotch between the pavement cracks or run along the low wall. "You could go on a shape walk, finding stones, shells and leaves that are all the same shape," suggests Clare Lewis, co-author of Adventure Walks for Families in and Around London. (credit:Imgorthand via Getty Images)

End on a high.(08 of08)

Match a walk to your kids' ages. You don't want want to leave them exhausted. Talk up what fun you had, so next time you suggest an adventure walk they leap at the chance. (credit:ArtMarie via Getty Images)