Kmart Australia recently faced backlash after featuring a Christmas bag designed for storing ham in the fridge. The bag was adorned with the phrase “Merry Ham-Mas.” However, the innocent holiday-themed product took on a new meaning following an attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, sparking controversy and anger among some Jewish groups.
Key Takeaway
Kmart Australia responds quickly and removes the controversial “Merry Ham-Mas” Christmas bag from sale following Jewish protests. The company acknowledges the oversight and apologizes for any offense caused.
Protests by the Australian Jewish Association
In response to the bag’s inappropriate connotation, the Australian Jewish Association took to social media to express their concerns. They shared a picture of the bag, captioning it as a “K-MART STUFF-UP!” The association highlighted that while the bag may be perceived as humorous by some, it is important to recognize the potential insensitivity of the product. They promptly reached out to Wesfarmers corporate, the parent company of Kmart, urging them to remove the item from sale.
Kmart’s Swift Response
Kmart responded swiftly to the concerns raised by the Australian Jewish Association. Within an hour of being contacted, the company took down the “Merry Ham-Mas” Christmas bag from its website. They released a statement apologizing for the oversight and acknowledged that proper consideration had not been given to the potential implications of the product.
“We got it wrong on this occasion, and we apologize unreservedly,” Kmart stated in their mea culpa. “When designing this product, we clearly didn’t think through all the implications, and the product has been removed from sale.”
