Bath & Body Works is under fire for a design mishap involving a candle that many say resembled a Ku Klux Klan hood.
The KKK Candle Controversy
The candle, named “Snowed In,” featured a winter theme with a paper snowflake pattern that sparked outrage online. Social media users were quick to point out the unsettling similarity between the candle’s design and the infamous white hoods worn by the KKK, one of the oldest and most notorious hate groups in U.S. history.
“I know it’s one of those paper snowflakes, but I can’t be the only one who sees “it,” right….RIGHT??” shared an user on Reddit. “If Bath and Body Works is smart, this candle is going to be pulled off the site real soon. Did no one look at these before sending them out? SMFH.”
The company wasted no time responding, pulling the candle from both its website and stores. In a statement, Bath & Body Works acknowledged the issue, explaining that the resemblance was unintentional. They emphasized their commitment to listening to feedback and swiftly correcting mistakes.
“We apologize to anyone we’ve offended and are working quickly to remove this item. We are also evaluating our process moving forward to avoid similar incidents in the future,” a spokesperson stated.
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This situation didn’t go unnoticed on social media. Reddit users coined nicknames for the candle like “Klandle” and “Klan Krismas Kandle.” Some customers who attempted to buy the candle reported that their orders were canceled after the controversy hit.
Despite being pulled from shelves, the candle has appeared on eBay, with one listing asking as much as $350. While eBay prohibits listings with racist language, the candle itself hasn’t been explicitly flagged for removal.
This isn’t the first time Bath & Body Works has faced criticism for product choices. In 2022, the company rolled out a Black History Month collection that featured Kente cloth designs, a move that was accused of cultural appropriation despite the brand’s partnerships with civil rights groups. Bath & Body Works responded by donating $500,000 to nonprofits and reaffirming their dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
“A gift of $500,000 ‘to promote economic empowerment’ and ‘to support efforts dedicated to civil rights and racial justice’ is always nice, but it’s not going to go very far with that very generalized mission across the entire country,” said Winifred Johnson, assistant professor of history at Bethune-Cookman University.
“This appears to be another example of cultural appropriation. Not cultural appreciation. Cultural appreciation is usually a genuinely sincere (often naïve) attempt to recognize or elevate another culture despite one’s ignorance of that culture. Cultural appropriation is an attempt by one culture to use another’s culture to the benefit of one’s own.”
