Remember the yoga pants by Lululemon that were recalled earlier this year because of the slight issue of them becoming see-through? Lululemon founder Chip Wilson found himself in hot water last week after he blamed women for the problem with his yoga pants. People were outraged with his comments, no surprise there, and Wilson has since issued an apology via YouTube and Twitter.
Lululemon issued a recall back in March of this year on 17 percent of its black yoga pants after receiving complaints that the material was too thin, which made them see-through during workouts. Women who owned the defective pants, which cost anywhere from $72 to $98 retail, were given full refunds or replacements. At the time, Lululemon blamed the problem on receiving a defective batch, but a few days ago, founder Chip Wilson told Bloomberg the issue was really with the women who wore the pants.
While Wilson admitted there was a problem with the design of the pants, he said the issue was more about the type of women who tried to wear the pants. “The thing is that women will wear seatbelts that don’t work [with the pants], or they’ll wear a purse that doesn’t work, or quite frankly some women’s bodies just actually don’t work for it,” Wilson said. “It’s really about the rubbing through the thighs, how much pressure is there over a period of time and how much they use it.”
Let’s just say that women in general were less than pleased with Wilson’s claim that a lack of “thigh gap” was causing the pants to be defective, rather than the material. Check out some of the ticked off comments women made on Twitter below.
@lululemon I am 5'5, 115 lbs and lululemon's leggings are sheer on me too. Am I too "fat" for the pants? Shame on you, Chip Wilson. #badceo
— Emilie Baum (@ebee228) November 9, 2013
@owlcatmana #lululemon made a flawed pant & had 2 recall them, losing millions & he idiotically blames it on women's fat thighs? Shame on u.
— Sarah Willis (@yoginicuisine) November 13, 2013
I find it pretty ridiculous that society expects me to be confident about my body when companies like Lululemon and Abercrombie fat-shame.
— Rachel Imlay (@raichellli) November 12, 2013
Wilson has since issued an apology for his comments via YouTube and Twitter. “I’m sad, I’m really sad,” Wilson says in the video. “I’m sad for the repercussions of my actions. I’m sad for the people of Lululemon who I care so much about, that have really had to face the brunt of my actions.” Check out his apology video below.
We hear you. A message from Chip Wilson. Let's stay in the conversation: http://t.co/R2sbl1g1oj
— lululemon athletica (@lululemon) November 9, 2013
Do you think Wilson’s comments were out of line, or are people just too easily offended these days? Respond below.
[Image via YouTube]