
The Bat Fried Rice T-shirt sparked controversy in April 2020 when it was promoted by Lululemon's former art director, Trevor Fleming, on social media. The shirt, designed by California-based artist Jess Sluder, features a flying Chinese takeout box with bat wings and the words No Thank You. It was priced at $60 and sparked accusations of racism and xenophobia against both Lululemon and Sluder on social media platforms such as Instagram and Weibo. In response, Lululemon distanced itself from Fleming, stating that he was no longer an employee, and issued an apology, emphasising its commitment to diversity and inclusion. The T-shirt is available for purchase on several online platforms, including Amazon, TeeChip, and Nemoshirt, with prices ranging from $15.99 to $24.99.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Style | V-neck, crew neck, baseball, long sleeve, slim or relaxed fit |
Fabric weight | Light, medium, heavy |
Fabric type | Cotton, polyester, airlume combed and ringspun cotton |
Colours | Black, white, pink, yellow, purple, orange, grey |
Screen printed | |
Sizes | XS-5XL |
What You'll Learn
Where to buy a 'Bat Fried Rice' t-shirt online
The "Bat Fried Rice" T-shirt, designed by California-based artist Jess Sluder, features a flying Chinese takeout box with bat wings and the words "No Thank You" on the box and its sleeves, along with an image of chopsticks and bat wings. The T-shirt gained notoriety when it was promoted on social media by Trevor Fleming, the former art director of Lululemon, leading to accusations of racism and xenophobia. As a result, Lululemon distanced itself from Fleming, who has since apologised, and issued its own apology, stating that the T-shirt was not a Lululemon product.
If you are interested in purchasing a "Bat Fried Rice" T-shirt, there are several online retailers that offer them. Here is a list of websites where you can buy them:
- Redbubble: Redbubble offers a wide range of "Bat Fried Rice" T-shirts with various designs, including classic T-shirts, essential T-shirts, and sleeveless tops. They also provide free shipping on stickers and have a variety of other products, such as hoodies and sweatshirts.
- Amazon: Amazon previously sold the "Bat Fried Rice No Thank You" T-shirt, which received positive reviews from customers. However, it is currently unavailable, and it is uncertain if or when it will be back in stock.
- TeeChip: TeeChip offers custom prints, including the "Bat Fried Rice" T-shirt. They have a range of shipping options and provide tracking information for orders.
- Nemoshirt: Nemoshirt sells the "Bat Fried Rice" T-shirt in various styles, such as a classic women's T-shirt, a unisex longsleeve tee, and a hoodie. The website offers a 10% discount with the code "Autumn" and provides detailed shipping information, including estimated delivery times and rates for both domestic and international orders.
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'Bat Fried Rice' t-shirt designs
The "Bat Fried Rice" T-shirt design gained notoriety in 2020 when an employee of Canadian yoga wear company Lululemon posted the design to Instagram, causing a social media storm. The T-shirt, which was originally listed for sale on artist Jess Sluder's website, featured chopsticks with bat wings on the front and a winged Chinese takeaway box with the words "No Thank You" on the back. The design was deemed offensive and sparked a backlash on Chinese social media for "insulting" the country, with some interpreting it as a reference to the coronavirus pandemic.
Since then, several variations of the "Bat Fried Rice" T-shirt have emerged, with some playing on the original design and others offering more lighthearted interpretations. Here are some design ideas for "Bat Fried Rice" T-shirts:
- Original Design: This design features chopsticks with bat wings on the front and a winged Chinese takeaway box with the words "No Thank You" on the back. This was the original design that sparked controversy and is likely to be perceived as offensive or insensitive.
- Parody or Satire: Create a T-shirt that parodies or satirizes the original design to distance yourself from any offensive interpretations. For example, you could replace the bat wings with fried rice and add a playful twist to the message, such as "Yes, Please!" or "I'm Batty for Fried Rice."
- Minimalist Approach: Opt for a simple and subtle design that hints at the concept without being too explicit. For instance, use a small illustration of a bat with a single grain of rice or a pair of chopsticks without any additional elements.
- Educational Twist: Instead of focusing on the controversial elements, use the T-shirt as an opportunity to educate about bats and their ecological importance. Include interesting facts or statistics about bats, perhaps with a creative twist, such as "Bats Are Fried Rice's Best Friend" or "Batty for Conservation."
- Lighthearted Humor: Introduce a playful element to the design to lighten the mood. For example, you could have a cartoon bat holding a plate of fried rice with a speech bubble saying, "Just Winging It!" or "Fanging for Some Fried Rice."
- Cultural Appreciation: Showcase the beauty and diversity of Asian cuisine and culture, perhaps with a vibrant illustration of a bowl of fried rice, chopsticks, and a pair of bat wings in the background. Include a positive message such as "Celebrating Asian Flavors" or "The Magic of Fried Rice."
Remember to be mindful of cultural sensitivities and avoid perpetuating stereotypes or offensive associations. The goal is to create a fun, lighthearted, and respectful design that showcases the wearer's love for fried rice and bats without causing any harm or offence.
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'Bat Fried Rice' t-shirt price
The price of the "Bat Fried Rice" T-shirt varies depending on the retailer and the specific product offered. Here is a list of prices for the "Bat Fried Rice" T-shirt from different sources:
- TeeChip offers a range of "Bat Fried Rice" T-shirts, including classic T-shirts, premium fitted T-shirts, V-neck shirts, and more. However, the prices for these T-shirts are not explicitly mentioned on their website.
- Redbubble also sells "Bat Fried Rice" T-shirts in various styles, such as classic, essential, and fitted V-neck. They offer a wide range of designs, but the prices are not readily available on their product pages.
- Nemoshirt sells the "Bat Fried Rice" T-shirt for $22.99. They offer a range of styles, including a hoodie, sweater, and V-neck T-shirt. The price may vary depending on the chosen style.
- Amazon previously offered the "Bat Fried Rice No Thank You" T-shirt, which received a 4.3 out of 5-star rating. However, the product is currently unavailable, and the original price is not listed.
- Designed by California-based artist Jess Sluder, the "Bat Fried Rice" T-shirt was priced at $60. This shirt sparked controversy and was criticized for being xenophobic and racist. As a result, it is unclear if the shirt is still available for purchase or what its current price is.
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'Bat Fried Rice' t-shirt controversy
The "Bat Fried Rice" T-shirt controversy began on April 19, 2020, when Trevor Fleming, the global art director of Canadian athleisure brand Lululemon, promoted a racist T-shirt on his personal Instagram account. The T-shirt in question, designed by California-based artist Jess Sluder, featured a Chinese takeout box with bat wings and the words "No Thank You" on the back, and a pair of chopsticks with bat wings on the front. The shirt was priced at $60.
In a now-deleted Instagram post, Sluder wrote, "Where did COVID-19 come from? Nothing is certain, but we know a bat was involved." This statement, along with the shirt's design, perpetuated xenophobic sentiments toward East Asian communities that had intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, largely due to then-President Trump's use of terms like "China virus" and "kung flu" to describe the coronavirus.
Almost immediately, Fleming and Sluder faced intense backlash on social media platforms, including Twitter and Instagram, with the hashtag #boycottLululemon spreading in condemnation of the T-shirt's inflammatory and racist design. The controversy also reached the Chinese micro-blogging platform Weibo, where the hashtag #lululemon辱华# (#LululemonInsultsChina#) garnered over 33 million views and thousands of posts.
On April 21, as the criticism intensified, Lululemon responded by firing Fleming and issuing an apology, stating that they found the image and post inexcusable and had zero tolerance for cultural insensitivity and discrimination. Similarly, Sluder apologized for the T-shirt design, acknowledging that he had crossed a line with his satirical work and pledging to be more conscious of its impact.
Despite these apologies, the incident had significant repercussions for Lululemon, as many customers, particularly in China, vowed to boycott the brand, demanding a public apology on all major social media platforms, not just Weibo. The controversy highlighted the need for companies to take responsibility for their employees' actions and actively promote inclusivity and cultural sensitivity to avoid similar incidents in the future.
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'Bat Fried Rice' t-shirt stockists
There are several stockists for the Bat Fried Rice T-shirt. The T-shirt was designed by California-based artist Jess Sluder, and was initially promoted by Lululemon's former art director Trevor Fleming. However, following accusations of xenophobia and racism, Lululemon has distanced itself from the T-shirt and Trevor Fleming is no longer with the company.
The T-shirt can be purchased from the following stockists:
- Redbubble
- Amazon
- Nemoshirt
- TeeChip
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Frequently asked questions
You can buy a bat fried rice t-shirt from Amazon, TeeChip, Redbubble, or Nemoshirt.
The price of the t-shirt ranges from $7.99 to $60.
The t-shirt is available in sizes XS to 5XL.