Posted on 10/16/2025 8:53:47 AM PDT by jerod
Amazon told CBC News the phrase 'wife beater' doesn't violate its offensive products policy
Several ads on Amazon for tank tops that use the term "wife beater," a phrase deemed offensive by Canada's advertising watchdog, have been pulled from the retail giant's Canadian e-commerce website following a CBC News investigation.
Amazon told CBC by phone that it has no issues with the phrase and said the third-party dealers selling the tops on its website must have acted on their own initiative.
The slang term “wife beater” refers to a certain style of fitted men’s tank top. CBC News recently reported that Amazon allows third-party sellers to use the term in ads, despite an Ad Standards Council ruling in March that the phrase is offensive, trivializes domestic violence and violates Canada’s advertising code.
Amazon chose to ignore a request from Ad Standards to drop the term “wife beater.” The U.S. based e-commerce giant told the industry watchdog that the phrase is accepted in popular culture and doesn’t violate its Offensive Products Policy.
As part of its investigation, CBC News informed eight dealers using the term in a total of 10 Amazon ads about the Ad Standards ruling. So far, nine out of the 10 ads have either been removed, amended to exclude the term, or, in one case, the product listed is now unavailable for purchase.
Two of the dealers responded directly to CBC News.
“I am deeply sorry,” said NATPOST. "I'll remove the link immediately."
"I deeply regret that it has caused harm," said WANGYUNHUI2025, a dealer who removed the term from their tank top ads.
“I understand how important it is to use language that is respectful and inclusive, and I assure you that this will not be an issue moving forward.”
The one ad that remains unchanged happens to be the only one selling tank tops for women, rather than men.
Amazon Canada informed CBC News it did not ask the dealers to change their ads, and still stands by its position that the term, “wife beater” is acceptable as a clothing descriptor.
'Amazon is just too big to care'
Ad Standards took on the Amazon case after receiving a complaint from Diana Swales of Regina in 2024. Swales says she was taken aback when the retailer sent her an email about products on its site she may be interested in, including a men’s “wife beater” tank top.
"It's so obviously offensive,” she said. “It should be offensive to all women, but it's certainly offensive to ones who've been impacted by that activity.”
Swales was disappointed Ad Standards couldn’t make Amazon remove the phrase from its website.
“I guess Amazon is just too big to care,” she said.
But Swales was pleased to hear that almost all the ads CBC News found have disappeared or been altered.
“I congratulate them,” she said, referring the the dealers. Swales said that perhaps they just needed to be made aware that the phrase could be considered offensive.
Amazon told CBC News in an email that it strives "to maintain a store that is welcoming for all," and that it exercises judgment and keeps "cultural differences and sensitivities … in mind" when making decisions about product listings on its website.
Muslims should sue that the term “wife beater” is ruled offensive.
Canada is so woke. It’s beyond parody. Everybody I know cause these wife beaters. Women I know called these wife beaters.
So, are we to conclude the woman wearing a “wife beater” tank top is a lesbo? This is so confusing.
I hear North Kackeylackey is offended.
News day/week has to be pretty weak when we are re-debating the positive and negative aspects of the Wife Beater.
I was surprised when I first heard of “wife beater” T shirts. They are sleeveless and presumably that helps in wife beating. Frankly, I never saw much merit to the term. Why not just say sleeveless?
Maybe I’ll go with the CBC on this one.
Is gunn show offensive too?
Actually, Muslims should sue for trademark infringement, citing the Koran to establish prior use.
For some reason, my wife who tends to be pretty open minded about most things really hates it when I call these “wife beaters”. She doesn’t even want me to own any... ha ha ha. I think it stems from her first marriage and a physically abusive husband. I get it and DON’T use the term.
Perhaps it is a stereotype of a southern redneck who tends to wear these a lot beating on his girl? I don’t know, just positing. Another Hollyweird mischaracterization?
Can't leave out the faggots and trannys.
I know that I find the term offensive. There is enough crudeness in the world without making fun of men beating their wives.
Having said that, there are venues for crude language and where crude language is to be expected. I remember the old “Michael Savage” Bay Area radio show, where he would always feel he had to explain the term, as the shirt allowed a man’s arms to swing more freely as he beat his wife. Crude, but crudeness to make a point.
I guess its only a matter of time before leoTARDs are pulled….
Fifty years ago when I first heard the name, I asked my Mom why they called it that. She told me the name comes from a steriotype of drunken men in poverty regions like the Appalachia. Of course, my parents being hard working highly educated society types, they never associated or knew anything about rural/country life.
I believe the term originated from “reality” tv cop shows.
Often calls for domestic disturbances featured a male in a tattered & stained tank top.
FINE. “Baby beater”
I believe “Wife beater” is a jest at those who wear the style, not a functional description.
How old are you? A certain macho angry type of guy became passively associated with them because of movies, news films and to be honest real life experience. If you were born much after the fifties you may not have seen this as much. I knew exactly what was being referred to the first time I heard the term as a teen in the seventies. I was surprised a few years ago coming across the term that it was still in use. I wondered if younger people would even know what it meant as the imagery that first prompter the use wasn’t as common any longer.
muslims should protest that white people are culturally appropriating their beating tradition!
“I believe the term originated from “reality” tv cop shows.“
Yup that was a biggie. Central casting seem to love those shirts for their angry loudmouths.
‘Wokeness’ is offensive.
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