HAYWARD, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 12: Customers shop at a Bath & Body Works store on June 12, 2024 in Hayward, California. Photo: Justin Sullivan (Getty Images)
Bath & Body Works is in the heated seat this week after a design for a recent candle went all the way wrong. The chain, known for its yummy-smelling home and body fragrances, is being called out for the packaging of their “Snowed In” candle, which some say looks eerily similar to a reminder of this country’s racist past.
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Online critics have dubbed the winter-themed three-wick candle “The Klandle,” for using a paper snowflake design that bears a resemblance to white hoods worn by members of the Ku Klux Klan.
Some on social media are giving the chain the side eye for letting the candle go to market and not seeing the similarities sooner.
“Really B&BW!!? If we noticed, I’m sure you did to [sic], but you gave the “go ahead” anyway!!” wrote someone on X.
Others were quick to point out that while Bath & Body Works may have had the best of intentions, there are lots of paper snowflake designs out there, including plenty that would not have raised red flags.
“It’s the fact that there are SEVERAL designs for paper snowflakes and they went with that,” commented someone on TikTok.
Some pointed out that this problem could have been avoided if Bath & Body Works had set aside at least one position in their marketing department as a “Black job.”
“This sort of thing can easily be prevented by hiring the so-called “DEI” candidates,” wrote someone on X.
Bath & Body Works has pulled the “Snowed In” candle from its inventory in response to the criticism and issued a statement of apology.
“At Bath & Body Works, we are committed to listening to our teams and customers, and committed to fixing any mistakes we make-even those that are unintentional like this one,” the company said in a statement. “We apologize to anyone we’ve offended and are swiftly working to have this item removed and are evaluating our process going forward.”
