USA – Retailer Bed Bath and Beyond has responded to the concerns about a blackface pumpkin the company was selling as halloween decoration in its seasonal line of products.
Objections came when a New York law firm had them decorated on its front steps the Feerick, Nugent, MacCartney law firm removed the pumpkins, which were painted black with white eyes and mouth, from the porch outside its office in South Nyack, according to News 12 Westchester.
“We understand that someone complained about them, and so once we got word of that we immediately took them down,” one of the firm’s partners, Mary Marzolla, told the 24-hour news station. She said the pumpkins had been personalized with the names of each of the firm’s partners and weren’t meant to be offensive.
“We represent people of all colors and faiths, and we would never do anything to exclude anyone from any community,” she said.
Bed Bath and Beyond said that the item was only available online and they said in a press release, “This is a sensitive area and, though unintentional, we apologize for any offense caused. We immediately removed the item from sale.”
