Oh, Bath & Body Works, What Have You Done Now?

In a spectacular display of tone-deaf design, Bath & Body Works is hurriedly yanking a seasonal candle off its shelves because the snowflake pattern on its label bears an uncanny resemblance to Ku Klux Klan hoods. Yes, you read that right. The Klandle (X) and KKKandle (Reddit) are now a thing, thanks to those cutout holes in the pointy white snowflake tips.

The company issued a groveling apology on Thursday for the Snowed In three-wick candle, stating, "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." They continued, "We apologize to anyone we’ve offended and are swiftly working to have this item removed and are evaluating our process going forward."

Complaints about the candle started bubbling up online mid-week after the holiday-themed candle was unveiled. The design apparently reminded some folks of the hoods worn by the Ku Klux Klan, a white supremacist group founded in 1866 that had a resurgence during the civil rights movement.

Candle enthusiast @_scentsgalore on Instagram posted, "Don’t be surprised if we do not see this one in store! Initially I did not see it but now I can’t unsee it!" Followers were, predictably, divided. One poster argued, "Nobody caught it because it’s a paper snowflake. People are literally looking for reasons to be outraged lol." Another hit back, "People claiming they can't see it are gaslighting. Its staring at you right in the face."

Not to be outdone, fashion and pop culture site Diet Prada quipped on Instagram, "Damn, Bath & Body Works really gave new meaning to 'White Christmas'."

Over on X, users pointed out that the company might have avoided this faux pas if it had more diverse viewpoints. "If we noticed, I'm sure folks at the company did, too," noted one commenter.

Bath & Body Works: A History of Insensitivity

This isn't the first time the personal care and fragrance retailer has faced complaints of insensitivity. Two years ago, they released Black History Month products, including Kente cloth designs, which were slammed for cultural appropriation.

"This was a missed opportunity to push the culture forward, instead of capitalizing like most companies do off the Black dollar," said Shyriaka ‘Shy’ Morris, a New Smyrna Beach, Florida, artist and founder of PEACE ARTS at the time to The Daytona Beach News-Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads: @mikesnider & mikegsnider.

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