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Bath and Body Works removed its Snowed In candle after critics said the design resembled KKK hoods. (Bath & Body Works) |
A candle intended to evoke cozy scents of buttermilk, musk, and vanilla has instead become a viral misstep for Bath & Body Works, one of the nation's most popular home fragrance retailers. The brand recently pulled its Snowed In candle from shelves following online backlash that claimed the label resembled the garb worn by Ku Klux Klan members. The design, meant to showcase a paper snowflake, was criticized for its similarity to the KKK's infamous white, cone-shaped hoods with eye cutouts.
A spokesperson for the Ohio-based company stated that the likeness was "unintentional," and emphasized Bath & Body Works’ commitment to listening to feedback from both their team and customers. "We apologize to anyone we've offended and are working swiftly to remove this item from stores while reevaluating our processes moving forward," the statement read.
This controversy comes at a critical time for Bath & Body Works, which heavily relies on holiday sales, with the last quarter traditionally making up more than a third of its annual revenue. While recent years have seen a decline in sales, with a 2% drop in revenue reported in August, analysts note the company has largely returned to pre-pandemic sales levels.
The Snowed In candles, already pulled from shelves, have surfaced on resale platforms like eBay, with prices ranging from $125 to $360. Meanwhile, online users have mockingly nicknamed the candle the "Klandle" and the "Klan Krismas Kandle."
The controversy also arrives amidst an uptick in hate crimes across the U.S. The FBI reported that 30% of hate crime incidents last year targeted Black Americans, with anti-Jewish hate crimes accounting for 11% and a record-high 68% of hate crimes against religious groups being anti-Semitic in nature. The Anti-Defamation League has warned of the resurgence of Klan imagery as a hate symbol among white supremacist groups.
Bath & Body Works is now facing the task of repairing its image, while reinforcing its stance on inclusivity and addressing the misstep in its product design.
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