West Virginia governor angry over Abercrombie T-shirt that spoofs state

Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | 3.23.04

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Gov. Bob Wise sent a letter to Abercrombie & Fitch on Monday demanding that the clothing retailer stop selling a T-shirt that spoofs the state with the slogan, "It's All Relative in West Virginia."

Wise said the T-shirt depicts "an unfounded, negative stereotype of West Virginia."

"I write to you today to demand that you immediately remove this item from your stores and your print and online catalogues," Wise wrote. "In addition, these shirts must be destroyed at once to avoid any possibility of resale and proof be given thereof."

Abercrombie & Fitch spokesman Tom Lennox declined to say whether the New Albany, Ohio-based company would comply with the governor's request. He said the T-shirt, which features the slogan on an outline of the state, has been selling well at $22.50.

"We love West Virginia. We love California, Florida, Connecticut, Hawaii and Nebraska too. Abercrombie & Fitch was born and raised in the USA, and we honor all 50 states in the union," Lennox said.

West Virginia is not the only state that is spoofed on an Abercrombie & Fitch T-shirt. Another shirt's slogan is "New Hampshire. 40 million squirrels can't be wrong."

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[Phantom Lord]

Its funny cause its true!

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Didn't we just have to deal with Urban Outfitters?

Just damn.

If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[VadeRetro]

They're in trouble now. "Hot Lips" Wise is on their case.

[Blue Scourge]

Lol..I need to get that squirrel one...I have a friend from NH.

[Fenris6]

No prob - get some West VA business to sponsor the production of their own t-shirts, captioned:

"Abercrombie: We molest little boys"

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Check out the one on the left...is it you? Can you see yourself in that shirt?

[DollyCali]

west virginia ping (where everyone is related?)

[weegee]

So A&F can sell thongs with flirty phrases on them to pre-teen girls and can issue a catalog chock full of nekkid teens and the governor won't speak up.

What does it take to make some elected officials fight the culture war?

This shirt is a joke and so is WV government it would seem.

[BSunday]

The WV and NH shirts are nothing compared to the shirt on the right. THAT's the one I have a problem with.

[twigs]

I think it's funny (and I'm the product of a long line of cousin marriages). WV ought to respond with a new advertising campaign. "Something like When you're here, you're family." "Come join our family." All kinds of good possibilities.

[weegee]

I knew that there was a reason Howie Dean was so squirrely. he was just shoring up the base.

[MineralMan]

A Google search reveals that there is an actual "Cheeses of Nazareth" in a small town in Scotland. Apparently it's a popular deli there.

As I remember, there are a couple of Nazareths here in the US. Great name for a cheese shop or deli.

Of course, the perpetually ticked off will find such a thing blasphemous. It's actually a pretty funny play on worlds.

[general_re]

What's all the fuss about? It's obviously a reference to Einsteinian general relativity, which I'm sure most West Virginians spend a lot of time thinking about...

[Jaded]

A&F had so much more class before Oshman's sold them.

[MrB]

Wise said the T-shirt depicts "an unfounded, negative stereotype of West Virginia."

If it's unfounded, then why the fuss?

[Jaded]

A&F had so much more class before Oshman's sold them.

[twigs]

I find that offensive, too.

[VadeRetro]

Anyway, my own fave WV joke is "West Virginia, where 'bisexual' means 'sheeps and goats'!" (Hot Lips Wise probably doesn't like that one either.)

[twigs]

Believe me, it's not unfounded. I just think they ought to have fun with this.