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Tesco apologises over 'anti-ginger' Christmas card

By Lucy Halfhead on Wednesday 16 December 2009

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Tesco

They have to put up with endless jokes in the playground, but an 'anti-ginger' Christmas card on sale at supermarket giant Tesco was a step too far for beleaguered red-heads.

The card depicted a child with ginger hair sitting on Santa's lap with the words, 'Santa loves all kids. Even ginger ones'.

30-year-old Davinia Phillips, whose three young children are all blessed with auburn locks, couldn't believe it when she spotted the card in her local branch of Tesco. She said she found the card offensive and made a complaint.

'It's discrimination, pure and simple,' she says. 'If it had been about a black child, or an overweight child, the store would be shut by now. Tesco should be aware of what's going on their shelves.'

A (probably red-faced) Tesco spokesperson said, 'We sell a large range of Christmas cards, some of which are intended to be humourous. It is never our intention to offend any customer and we are sorry if this card caused any upset'.

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Wednesday 16 December 2009

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I think its absolutely disgraceful that some shops are even still selling it, at least tescos have apologised and removed the product from display. But if it was about a black kid or a disabled kid the world would be in uproar and all the stores involved would be sued, its such a let down that the world has come to this and if i received this card as a joke i would certainly rip it up in front of the sender.
Comment by Lisa McArdle on December 16 11:32

Really?!!?

This is actually being discussed as viable news?

And as for the comment comparing it to racism or anti-disabled sentiment, I'm a disabled person and a proud ging
Comment by Mary Telford on December 16 11:48

I thoroughly agree with the complaint made against this card. Both of my children have beautiful red hair. One of which is a successful model and the other is a beautiful girl who also happens to be disabled and spends her life in a wheelchair (double whammy then hey?!!)This kind of discrimination should not be tolerated and should be treated as a prejudice on par with racism as it has the same impact on its targets. Incidents such as this only serve to encourage bullying, publicising it shows children that it is ok to make fun of others!!
Comment by melanie kay cook on December 16 12:32

I think its terrible about that, I think that ginger people get picked on enough without this stupid card! Whoever came up wih the idea of making this card is very stupid!! I know someone who is ginger and they get picked on so much and there is nothing wrong with being ginger, making fun og ginger people is just a bad as racism!
Comment by PRIVATE on December 16 13:30

I agree with other comments, a persons physical appearance determined by their DNA is not a reason for any kind of discrimination. Other avenues of media have got away with this kind of prejudice for too long. Notably Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear has passed anti Ginger comments. Prejudice is Prejudice whether it is directed at Black or Ginger children. We wouldnt tolerate the former so why the latter.
Comment by Jim Summerfield on December 16 14:30

I disagree. Humour is often at other peoples expense. A disabled child or minority child is not usually the brunt of jokes whereas gingers are. I did not find this card particularly funny but there are some cracking good ginger jokes out there.
Comment by boogaloo on December 16 15:10

I'm blonde and have had taunts because of it my whole life, with endless jokes, but I wouldn't complain if this xmas card ws about a blonde kid. If this really is discrimination then ban all the "Old" joke cards - isn't that age discrimination?!?! You won't stop people mocking. A card like this would be in jest as light hearted humour between friends - no different to mocking a friend who is short, or has big feet. Comedy is everwhere. Don't like it? Don't look, listen to or buy it!
Comment by ANON on December 16 17:26

I'm ginger as are my family and I think the card sounds hilarious! I want to know where I can buy it to give to my ginger brother this Christmas! I think people need to have a sense of humour about these things, and not take things so personally!
Comment by Ginger with a sense of humour! on December 16 17:26

I think some people are rigth in saying the card is not fair but i am 14 years old and i am ginger without doubt i have grown up getting comments and taking them but when i grew up i learnt to love my hair colour and making cards like this only spurs me on because there arnt many ginger people around but the ones we do have are special and unique and different in a good way because we stand out and people notice us but each time you hold your head even higher and prove to peolple you dont care what they think. it only inspires me to sayy im Ginger and i will ALWAYS be PROUD! so if cards like that want to be made then make it because i would buy it!
Comment by - on December 16 20:06

Hahahaha, how funny! I find it ridiculous at how easily people are offended these days ;)
Comment by Mel on December 16 20:27

It is totally inappropriate - it is no more acceptable that racist, facist, biggoted behaviour and should be stamped out - completely unacceptable and Tesco is completely wrong to have stocked it - the buyer should be sacked if you ask me promoting this type of bullying!!!
Comment by MrsK on December 16 20:32

I have 2'ginger' children a 'ginger' husband and we all think the card is cool! My son glen (non ginger) is gutted it has been withdrawn as he was hoping to send one to his very beautiful 'ginger' girlfriend!!
Comment by lynne & Glen on December 16 21:02

I think it is really pathetic how they have stopped seeling them. I have ginger hair, really bright im 17 and I love it. I love being different and all these parents that are kicking off about it need to sort there heads out because they will get called for being ginger everywhere they go ad soon it will just get old. Im really devastated becaause after i found out about them I wanted one
Comment by Shannon on December 17 02:32

Oh for goodness sake I am a red haired, I have a red haired husband and two red haired children I think the card is funny, we would have bought it. I cannot believe how petty this is. What's next, all blonde jokes will have to be stopped? It is indicative of a world gone mad with "political correctness"
Comment by Claire Tinston on December 17 21:53

I am a red haired Irish man who lived in England for four years in the late 1990s. While living there I was surprised to hear the term 'Ginger' (to rhyme with 'singer'), and found it offensive. It is a dehumanising term, and makes a visible minority into an object of ridicule. Our colour is a mark of our genetic and racial heritage, and as such should be respected in a tolerant society, not used as a substitute where 'black' was used in years past.
Comment by ciaran on December 18 12:31

I'm ginger. I found it funny.
Unfortunately sometimes being so sensitive about the subject will only encourage people who would bully you due to your hair colour anyway even more determined to do so, as it appears they have found your "weak spot" - which they will exploit with joy.
I fear this uproar only perpetuates the myth of ginger people as "victims", which is something I have spent years getting away from by taking it on the chin.
Comment by Jo Skeet on December 18 21:15

People get picked on all the time, you need to take the joke and move on for christ sake.....

If we were all as sensative as you, then we wouldn't have comedy at all, go to the Apollo and tell them what they are saying is offensive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by Bill on December 19 22:14

This woman is nothing more than a hypocrite, you dont accidently find this card in Tesco, you find it by browsing through the other offensive cards which poke fun at fat people, old people, blonde people etc, whe just happened to find one that was out of her comfort zone. If you are easily offended then stay away from the offensive card section!
Comment by Sue on December 20 13:37

comparing being ginger to being disabled or fat is wrong yes. because no one WANTS To be disabled or fat! something has gone wrong if you are fat or disabled. either gentically or through an accident or overeating! ginger is as racial attribute and i WANT my kids to have ginger hair! well at least one of them! it is exactly the same as racism. it is dicrimination asgaint a minority colour from racial heritage. stop comparing it to unfortiunate fat or disabled people! no one would choose that for their kids! however i want a black kid with ginger hair! not THAT would be cool!
jim
Comment by jim steele on December 20 14:27

Oh get a grip ! It's just humour.
Comment by Danielle on December 20 15:26

I heard about this card from a friend, who went back to purchase it for me. I must say, as a proud Ginger-kid, I am disappointed that it was gone when he went back with his wallet, and think that it is quite humorous. I am now on a mission to find one for myself
Comment by Charity Fraser-Doyle on December 25 16:36

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