Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Tank top ads on Amazon using 'offensive' phrase pulled from site after CBC investigation
CBC News ^ | Oct 16, 2025 | Sophia Harris

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.


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-37 last
To: Tell It Right

Old Arab saying: “A man should beat his wife every day. Even if he doesn’t know why, she does.”


21 posted on 10/16/2025 10:33:36 AM PDT by Aeneas2112 (Sometimes by losing a battle you find a new way to win the war. Donald Trump)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: BullDog108

“in poverty regions like the Appalachia.”

Yeah, urban blue trolls don’t beat their wives. No.


22 posted on 10/16/2025 10:50:41 AM PDT by tumblindice (America's founding fathers: all armed conservatives)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: jerod

EVEN MORE OFFENSIVE: $27.99 for a plain tank top PLUS TAX


23 posted on 10/16/2025 10:59:09 AM PDT by ridesthemiles (not giving up on TRUMP---EVER)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jerod

When the phrase “Wife beater” came along to describe that clothing item, everybody in the old neighborhood had to stop calling them “Dego T’s”. It was as difficult as calling it the “Willis Tower” instead pf “Sears Tower”.


24 posted on 10/16/2025 10:59:49 AM PDT by Bernard ("Nothing is as expensive as that which the government provides for free." - Ronald Reagan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ChessExpert

So, were a gender identifying male to shave his armpits would “they” still be called “wifebeaters.”


25 posted on 10/16/2025 11:03:59 AM PDT by AndyJackson
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: tumblindice

[Yeah, urban blue trolls don’t beat their wives. No.]

But when they do it they’re wearing hip hugger skinny jeans.


26 posted on 10/16/2025 11:10:01 AM PDT by Farmerbob
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: sjmjax
And a woman smoking a cigarette yelling “lock his a$$ up!”
27 posted on 10/16/2025 11:25:05 AM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (It's like somebody just put the Constitution up on a wall …. and shot the First Amendment -Mike Rowe)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: T.B. Yoits

28 posted on 10/16/2025 11:45:27 AM PDT by T.B. Yoits
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: jerod

From the time of Clinton to Biden everything and everyplace turned to shit now the clean up is long over due.

With so many small minds with TDS it’s time for more Hotel Hysteria’s to be built.


29 posted on 10/16/2025 11:48:23 AM PDT by Vaduz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: T.B. Yoits
Apparently not just wives...

Tie your mother down
Tie your mother down, yeah-yeah
Or you ain't no friend of mine



30 posted on 10/16/2025 11:51:50 AM PDT by T.B. Yoits
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: tumblindice
...urban blue trolls don’t beat their wives. No.

Urban blue trolls?



31 posted on 10/16/2025 11:54:24 AM PDT by T.B. Yoits
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: tumblindice
...urban blue trolls don’t beat their wives. No.

Urban blue trolls:



32 posted on 10/16/2025 11:58:40 AM PDT by T.B. Yoits
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: T.B. Yoits

33 posted on 10/16/2025 12:02:18 PM PDT by T.B. Yoits
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: jerod
""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.""

***

What? Is it supposed to be some kind of reference to the Stanley Kowalski types? If so, times have changed and I have a better name for the Tshirts. How about "Death Wish Wife Beater". Cause that's more fitting to today's USA culture of strong women that don't take no "stuff" (myself included).


34 posted on 10/16/2025 12:02:58 PM PDT by Danie_2023
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BullDog108
I asked my Mom why they called it that. She told me the name comes from a stereotype of drunken men in poverty regions like the Appalachia.

Drunken men in poverty regions didn't wear shirts back then, beating their wives or not.



35 posted on 10/16/2025 12:07:00 PM PDT by T.B. Yoits
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: ChessExpert

Names change with the times. For decades a hooded sweat shirt was called a hooded sweat shirt. Today it’s a hoodie.

When I was a kid we wore leggings. Today they are called gators.

I do agree with you, in that I will go with CBC on the wife beater thing.


36 posted on 10/16/2025 3:04:06 PM PDT by redfreedom (They’re AWFUL...Affuent White Female Urban Leftists)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: jerod
The slang term “wife beater” refers to a certain style of fitted men’s tank top.

Used to be known generically as “sleeveless T-shirts.”

37 posted on 10/16/2025 6:15:30 PM PDT by Albion Wilde (To live free is the greatest gift; to die free is the greatest victory. —Erica Kirk)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-37 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson