Online t-shirt stores are being blasted for carrying an item mocking the people who died after falling from a plane in an attempt to flee the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Clips of Afghan civilians trying to cling to the tire of a departing plane have become an enduring visual during this crisis.
The distressing footage is shared everywhere online.
Scenes of absolute desperation in #Kabul airport today: Afghan civilians chase & cling to US C-17 plane in last attempt to flee Afghanistan.\n\nAt least one body fell from aircraft wing, after a stampede by runway. Very dark moment for country:pic.twitter.com/PrNqsHo0Wc— Joyce Karam (@Joyce Karam) 1629109600
On social media, a shirt mocking the situation was highly criticized. The shirt was available on online retailers Etsy, Tee4Sport, and TShirtAtLowPrice.
The shirt has the words "Kabul Skydiving Club" and "Est. 2021" on it, along with a picture of people falling from a plane.
Online users were horrified at the image being sold on a t-shirt.
Social media users voiced their anger and disgust after some online retailers put up for sale a T-shirt showing Afghans falling to death from a US evacuation plane.\n\n#siasidugout #kabul #T_Shirtpic.twitter.com/Qexwmt3yG9— Siasi Dugout (@Siasi Dugout) 1629539332
There\u2019s noooo way this is real what— \u0632\u0627\u0631\u0627 \u062c\u0627\u0646 (@\u0632\u0627\u0631\u0627 \u062c\u0627\u0646) 1629561220
This is just so wrong! Shame on you V-Shirt! Disrespectful big time! #KabulHasFallen #Kabulpic.twitter.com/SJO9F8xM1V— crypTony Soprano\u2122 (@crypTony Soprano\u2122) 1629457158
The spread of a shirt in America mocking the fall of the Afghans off the plane at the Kabul airport. This is really cruel.pic.twitter.com/0SywdRIXCN— world News (@world News) 1629398106
Gladly swap the designers of this shirt for any number of #afghanistanwomen #AfghanWomen & children. I say toss these designers out of a plane past the protective perimeter. #Afghanistan #AfghanistanCrisis #Kabul #kabulskydivingclubpic.twitter.com/40zQsjJKu7— david mccoy (@david mccoy) 1629647764
saw a shirt that read "kabul skydiving club" like wow funny its so great that u are distant enough from a conflict/issue to not only make a joke about it but actually put that shit on a shirt FUCK U— Dr. Aspergeruis (@Dr. Aspergeruis) 1629495296
A number of commenters called on the websites to remove the offensive item.
Hey @Etsy,\nCan you remove this **horrible** item (and likes of it) from your website?\nhttps://www.etsy.com/listing/1053044012/kabul-skydiving-club-shirt-afghanistan?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_d-clothing-mens_clothing-other&utm_custom1=_k_EAIaIQobChMIuee9rKO88gIV8yGtBh2zfQ0oEAQYAyABEgLWp_D_BwE_k_&utm_content=go_11756615436_112903771654_483582970936_pla-299625218374_c__1053044012_450694471&utm_custom2=11756615436&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuee9rKO88gIV8yGtBh2zfQ0oEAQYAyABEgLWp_D_BwE\u00a0\u2026\n\nI understand it's not you but the sellers who are making these. But you can take action, so please do!\n#Afganistan— Behzad Golshan (@Behzad Golshan) 1629348892
Hey @Etsy! Why do you sell t-shirts ridiculing #Afghans who have died falling off an airplane in @Kabul? \n\nCc: @cjwerleman @doamuslimspic.twitter.com/UxVon2W8wx— Sangar | \u0633\u0646\u06ab\u0631 \u067e\u06cc\u06a9\u0627\u0631 (@Sangar | \u0633\u0646\u06ab\u0631 \u067e\u06cc\u06a9\u0627\u0631) 1629414546
T-shirt with the tagline \u201cKabul Skydiving Club\u201d mocking the death of Afghans, who fell to their death from a US Air Force jet.\nIs It Shameful Business!...? If yes Retweet it. #kabulairport #Death_body_T_Shirt #Afghan\n#Panjshir #Talibanpic.twitter.com/KJVJ0xzdwP— Afghan English (@Afghan English) 1629576778
@Etsy Retailers slammed for 'Kabul Skydiving' shirts mocking Afghans falling from jethttps://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/world-news/shop-criticised-kabul-skydiving-merch-24802424?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar\u00a0\u2026— Steve Wehmhoff (@Steve Wehmhoff) 1629502150
@Etsy I saw your Kabul Skydiving t shirt and do not have words how disgusting you are with this Ideapic.twitter.com/2itrqPYuRx— S. Sahar (@S. Sahar) 1629394596
As of writing Etsy and Tee4Sport have removed the shirt, but it is still available in some other stores.
The incident was compared unfavorably to another incident where Amazon was selling a children's t-shirt that showed the murder of George Floyd.
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