Watch Now
NewsNational News

Actions

Target under fire for 'OCD' Christmas sweater

<p>Target's foray into ugly Christmas sweaters isn't going so well.</p><p>Some Target shoppers believe <a href="http://www.target.com/p/ocd-ugly-christmas-sweater-red-awake/-/A-23942666" target="_blank">a sweater with the phrase</a> "OCD: Obsessive Christmas Disorder" has gone a little too far.</p><p>The company is being criticized for making light of mental illness, and some are asking Target to stop selling the sweater. (Video via <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKO2nN28X4Q" target="_blank">Target</a>)</p><p>"Oh, that is not good," Elmo said in a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKO2nN28X4Q" target="_blank">Target commercial</a>.</p><p>The sweater also brought attention to <a href="http://shop.crackerbarrel.com/Light-Up-Burlap-Wall-Decor/dp/B013GY37YC" target="_blank">other retailers</a>, such as Cracker Barrel, <a href="http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/consumers-arent-happy-target-sweater-makes-light-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-168038" target="_blank">referencing mental health</a> with their <a href="https://twitter.com/ponyboysCRUNCHY/status/663526840208719872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">holiday merchandise</a>.</p><p><a href="http://time.com/4106089/target-obsessive-christmas-disorder-sweater/" target="_blank">A Target spokesperson told Time</a>: "We never want to disappoint our guests and we apologize for any discomfort." (Video via <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roI652GPElU" target="_blank">Target</a>)</p><p>Target says it doesn't currently have <a href="http://time.com/4106089/target-obsessive-christmas-disorder-sweater/" target="_blank">plans to remove the sweater</a>. </p><p><i>This video includes images from Getty Images.</i></p>
Posted
and last updated

Retail giant Target is getting quite a bit of flak for selling a Christmas sweater that some say trivializes mental illness. 

At a price of $22.40, the red women’s sweater with white and green font reads, “OCD Obsessive Christmas Disorder.” A string of customers took to social media, accusing Target of making light of the mental illness OCD, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
 
One Twitter user, Kate Gannon, wrote “OCD is a serious mental illness that shouldn't be mocked."
 
Others, however – even some who claimed to have OCD themselves – don’t see the big deal. 
Target acknowledges and apologizes for the fact that some customers are offended by the sweater, but Target spokesman Josh Thomas says there are no plans to remove the item.
 
"We never want to disappoint any of our guests and apologize for any discomfort," he said in a statement.
 
If it’s any consolation, at least the sweater is even, one cheeky Twitter user points out. 
 
WPTV

At WPTV, It Starts with Listening