Urban Outfitters Banned From Using 'Irresponsible' Thigh Gap Image On Website | HuffPost Life

Urban Outfitters, Your Controversial Pictures Aren't Cool, They're 'Irresponsible'

Rachel Moss— The Huffington Post UK

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With a depression t-shirt and a blood-stained 'Kent State shooting' hoodie as previous mistakes, you'd think Urban Outfitters would learn to steer clear of controversy.

But the clothes store has now been ordered to remove an image from its website by the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) that shows a model with a noticeable "thigh gap."

The ASA received a complaint that a model on the site appeared to be "unhealthily thin". The accuser said the site was promoting "irresponsible and harmful" media.

According to the MailOnline the image in question was one advertising red polkadot briefs.

The ASA stated: "The ASA considered that the model was very thin, and noted, in particular, that there was a significant gap between the model's thighs, and that her thighs and knees were a similar width.

"We considered that the model looked underweight in the picture."

The ASA went on to say that the image could negatively influence Urban Outfitters' young audience by suggesting that being underweight is something to aspire to and concluded that the picture was "irresponsible."

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Urban Outfitters do not accept that the image is irresponsible. A spokesperson told the ASA the model has a "naturally tall and slim physique."

Nevertheless the ASA banned the clothing website from displaying the image "in its current form."

A similar image, where the model's knees have been cropped out of the shot, now appears on the site in its place.

Although technically following instructions, we're wondering if Urban Outfitters could have done more to promote healthy body image and support diversity.

Minister for Women and Equalities Jo Swinson has said she supports the ASA's ruling.

"Given the worrying rates of eating disorders especially among young people, I applaud the Advertising Standards Authority for encouraging positive body image, and for taking steps to ensure that retailers comply with this," she said in a statement.

"I hope that other retailers take note of these unacceptable images."

Hear, hear.

Outrageous Urban Outfitters Scandals

Irish Drunk Scoop(01 of13)

In March 2012, Urban Outfitters began selling St. Patrick's Day-themed clothing that included shirts with derogatory statements about Irish people, such as: "Irish I Was Drunk." These shirts received negative reactions from Irish-Americans and were pulled. (Urban Outfitters)

Eat Less(02 of13)

In June 2010, Urban Outfitters released this t-shirt with this description: "Eat less or more or however much you'd like in this seriously soft knit tee cut long and topped with a v-neck." They should have printed that whole description instead of just "eat less" which seems to promote an unhealthy lifestyle and body image. (Urban Outfitters)

Catalog Photo Condemned(03 of13)

Urban Outfitters received heat from anti-gay groups for this photo in their April 2012 catalogue depicting two female models kissing. A group known as One Million Moms wrote on their website: "On page two of this catalog is a picture of two women kissing in a face holding embrace!...The content is offensive and inappropriate for a teen who is the company's target customer." (Urban Outfitters)

'Obama/Black' Option(04 of13)

In April 2010, Urban Outfitters pulled a t-shirt from their online store with a color option of 'Obama/Black.' The store had produced Obama-themed shirts but none of them with this color description. In response, the store released this statement: "The burnout pattern on this shirt is comprised of two colors - one is an internally developed color we called "Obama Blue" and the other is "Black." Unfortunately our website database truncate this combination to read "Obama/Black." We should have caught the error, and apologize for offending anyone." (Urban Outfitters)

'Tranny' Greeting Card(05 of13)

In March 2012, Urban Outfitters came under fire for a greeting card that was deemed transphobic by LGBT advocates. (Urban Outfitters)

Kiss Me Tee(06 of13)

Another derogatory t-shirt against Irish and Irish-Americans saying: "Kiss me. I'm Drunk, or Irish, or whatever." (Urban Outfitters)

Irish Yoga Trucker Hat(07 of13)

Surprisingly, the offensive St. Patrick's Day-themed items have not been pulled from Urban Outfitters' shelves, even when this trucker cap outraged Irish and Irish-American people. (Urban Outfitters)

Jewish Star T-Shirt (08 of13)

In April 2012, Urban Outfitters angered the Jewish community by selling a $100 shirt that critics said mimicked the design of star patches Jewish people were forced to wear during the Holocaust. (Urban Outfitters)

I Heart Destination Necklaces (09 of13)

In May 2011, an independent jewelry designer accused Urban Outfitters of stealing her designs. She wrote on her blog: "I understand that they are a business, but it's not cool to completely rip off an independent designer's work." Urban pulled the collection. (I Make Shiny Things)

I Support Same Sex Marriage T-Shirts-(10 of13)

Amidst the dealings of Proposition 8 in 2008, Urban Outfitters began selling shirts that said, "I Support Same-Sex Marriage." The shirts were pulled a week later. (Courtesy photo)

Hailey Clauson T-Shirt (11 of13)

Model Hailey Clauson posed for photographer Jason Lee Parry when she was just 15-years old. Parry released this photo of Clausen to Urban Outfitters, which he had agreed not to release when the young model's agency complained about the salacious nature of the "crotch shot" pose. The photo became a t-shirt and Clauson sued Urban Outfitters and Parry for damaging her reputation. (Courtesy photo)

Ghettopoly (12 of13)

In 2003, Urban Outfitters began selling a Monopoly knockoff called Ghettopoly, complete with "Hustle" bonus cards and "Smitty's XXX Peep Show." The game angered the African-American community and Rev. Glenn Wilson of Philadelphia called for a boycott, saying, "There's no way that game could be taken in any way other than that this man had racist intent in marketing it." (Courtesy photo)

Vote For Vodka & USA Drinking Team T-Shirts (13 of13)

Although Urban Outfitter's biggest demographic is 18-24 year-olds, the company is selling shirts that encourage underage drinking. Jan Withers, national president of Mother's Against Drunk Driving (MADD) says, "Kids shouldn't be wearing these t-shirts...Marketing [alcohol-related products] to teens is not in any way acceptable." (Urban Outfitters)

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