GREENSBORO, N.C. -
A baby doll found at a local Costco store has been pulled from store shelves after customers complained it was offensive. The doll, which depicts a black, baby girl, is named "Lil' Monkey."
According to Costco representatives, a Greensboro customer filed complaints about the offensive doll and the company pulled the product from stores.
The product is a doll called the "Cuddle with Me" baby doll manufactured by a company called BrassKey Keepsakes. The controversy stemmed from the black version of the doll which is surrounded by monkeys and wears a hat labeled "Lil' Monkey," while the white version is surrounded by pandas and wears a hat labeled "Pretty Panda."
Costco's corporate office says when they received complaints from John Taylor and other shoppers about the doll, store employees pulled the product from store shelves immediately.
According to a Costco corporate employee, a chain letter demanding the stores remove product number 404860 also prompted the company to take action.
Costco's Vice President of General Administration, Arthur Jackson, told FOX8 "We offer our sincere apology to anyone who was offended by the product. That was surely never our intent."
In a conversation with FOX8's Nicole Ferguson, Mary Gustaff, CEO of BrassKey Keepsakes, said the company offers a sincere apology to customers.
"It's so unfortunate because now it's being portrayed as a purposeful act to be disrespectful and that's not true. We really apologize," said Gustaff
When Ferguson asked Gustaff if she thought the dolls could be viewed as offensive, Gustaff responded: "We don't think in that way. We don't operate in that kind of thinking. We have a really diverse family-operated company that's been around for 28 years. What would we have to gain for heaven's sake?"
Greensboro Costco Manager James Stafford says the store carried both black and white dolls packaged with monkeys. A spokesperson with Costco's corporate office did not confirm the information.
Costco said all versions of the doll have been returned to the vendor.
Nicole Ferguson's Blog: "Lil' Monkey" Doll
According to Costco representatives, a Greensboro customer filed complaints about the offensive doll and the company pulled the product from stores.
The product is a doll called the "Cuddle with Me" baby doll manufactured by a company called BrassKey Keepsakes. The controversy stemmed from the black version of the doll which is surrounded by monkeys and wears a hat labeled "Lil' Monkey," while the white version is surrounded by pandas and wears a hat labeled "Pretty Panda."
Costco's corporate office says when they received complaints from John Taylor and other shoppers about the doll, store employees pulled the product from store shelves immediately.
According to a Costco corporate employee, a chain letter demanding the stores remove product number 404860 also prompted the company to take action.
Costco's Vice President of General Administration, Arthur Jackson, told FOX8 "We offer our sincere apology to anyone who was offended by the product. That was surely never our intent."
In a conversation with FOX8's Nicole Ferguson, Mary Gustaff, CEO of BrassKey Keepsakes, said the company offers a sincere apology to customers.
"It's so unfortunate because now it's being portrayed as a purposeful act to be disrespectful and that's not true. We really apologize," said Gustaff
When Ferguson asked Gustaff if she thought the dolls could be viewed as offensive, Gustaff responded: "We don't think in that way. We don't operate in that kind of thinking. We have a really diverse family-operated company that's been around for 28 years. What would we have to gain for heaven's sake?"
Greensboro Costco Manager James Stafford says the store carried both black and white dolls packaged with monkeys. A spokesperson with Costco's corporate office did not confirm the information.
Costco said all versions of the doll have been returned to the vendor.
Nicole Ferguson's Blog: "Lil' Monkey" Doll
