When it comes to choosing designs for clothing sold globally by a major retailer, there should be one simple rule asked before said item hits shelves: Is this possibly offensive? Whoever is responsible at H&M for asking that question must’ve been on vacation, as the retailer is now apologizing for a tank top featuring a menacing skull emblazoned over a Star of David.

The you-know-what hit the fan earlier this week when Times of Israel blogger Eylon Aslan-Levy spotted it at a London H&M, writing that while the shirt is perhaps not intentionally offensive/anti-Semitic, it’s still pretty darn inappropriate.

He wrote:

I doubt that there were anti-Semitic intentions on the part of the designer, but there is no escaping that the juxtaposition – no matter how accidental – of these two symbols is entirely inappropriate and offensive. The more I look at it, the more I am at a loss to explain how H&M commissioned or even approved this item.

H&M has now announced that it’s pulling the shirt from shelves worldwide and has issued an apology for allowing the design to go on sale in the first place, reports the Times of Israel in an update.

“Please accept our most sincere apologies that this has caused offense,” a company spokesperson said. “We understand the criticism and in response to this have decided to remove the T-shirt from all stores with immediate effect.”

European Jewish Congress President Moshe Kantor applauded the decision, reports the Associated Press, calling it a “thoughtless and insensitive design.”

He added that he hopes “that the symbols of the Jewish People will be given the same care as those of other minority groups.”

Previously in misguided Star of David fashions: Urban Outfitters Pulls Shirt That Reminds People Of The Holocaust

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