Giant US retailer Walmart has apologised after Halloween outfits on its website were labelled as 'Fat Girl Costumes'.
First reported yesterday by Jezebel, the somewhat insensitive nomenclature prompted an outcry online, with many taking to Twitter to vent their disgruntlement.
Jesus, @Walmart actually has a 'fat girl costumes' page. Really, @Walmart? One more reason among hundreds that I'm glad I don't shop there.
— Sara Ryan (@foodstuffsnati) October 27, 2014
It being understandably hard to imagine that this was a deliberate naming policy, Jezebel speculated that it may have been a web developer's idea of humour, forgotten about prior to the section going live.
However it happened, it wasn't too long before word of the kerfuffle reached the ears of whomever was manning the company's Twitter account.
A very bland and corporate reply followed, presumably to the tune of frantic behind-the-scenes damage limitation...
After which the relevent section heading was changed to something a little more approriate, namely Women's Plus Size Halloween Costumes
A hastily-issued company apology followed.
“This never should have been on our site," a Walmart spokesperson said.
"It is unacceptable, and we apologize.
“We are working to remove it as soon as possible and ensure this never happens again.”
Still, the damage was done - and it goes down as yet another PR fail for a company under fire over issues including labour relations policies, employee pay and treatment of suppliers,
They can take some consolation, however, from the fact that at least their buttermilk packaging doesn't bear a remarkable resemblance to male genitalia (we assume).