Dress-Up Jesus Figure Sparks Controversy; Game Sold At Urban Outfitters Stores

NBC10 News ^ | 3.15.04

[ambrose]

NBC10.com

Dress-Up Jesus Figure Sparks Controversy

Game Sold At Urban Outfitters Stores

POSTED: 12:44 PM EST March 15, 2004
UPDATED: 1:16 PM EST March 15, 2004

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. -- Some people are outraged over a sacred symbol that is being sold for laughs.

Slideshow:

Images Of Dress-Up Jesus Figure

"Dress Up Jesus" Controversy

The novelty item gives buyers the chance to dress up Jesus in different outfits.

"I did a double take. It just seemed unbelievable to see something like that," said Gerry, a viewer who didn't want NBC 10 to use his last name.

From a distance, the item looks like a kid's dress-up game. But when you look closely, it is a magnetic Jesus dress-up figure.

"I basically stood there speechless," Gerry said.

Gerry stumbled upon the dress-up Jesus at an Urban Outfitters store at the King Of Prussia Mall.

He said he was shocked by the magnetic game showing Jesus on the cross, clad in underwear with interchangeable outfits like a devil costume, a skull T-shirt and a hula skirt.

"Is it because it's Jesus Christ, that it's OK to bash on Jesus? Is that more fashionable than some other religious figure from history?" Gerry asked.

Gerry e-mailed Urban Outfitters to complain that the item was in horrible taste.

NBC 10 tried contacting Urban Outfitters, but the company said there was nobody who could comment. However, in an e-mail response to Gerry, the company said it doesn't sell the dress-up Jesus to provoke or offend people, but it sells it to reflect a diversity of opinion among its customer base.

Copyright 2004 by NBC10.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[ambrose]

[AnnaZ]

Oh I so don't want to be this "artist".

[boris]

I don't care if it rains or freezes
Long as I got my plastic Jesus
Sittin' on the dashboard of my car
Comes in colors, pink and pleasant
Glows in the dark, it's iridescent
Take it with you when you travel far
Get yourself a sweet madonna
Dressed in rhinestone, settin' on a
Pedestal of Abalone Shells
Goin' 90, I ain't scary
Cause I got the Virgin Mary
Assuring me that I won't go to hell..

[thoughtomator]

Probably an NEA grantee

[AntiGuv]

If this was a Dress-Up Mohammed figure that shop would be a smoking cinder by dawn....

[claudiustg]

---However, in an e-mail response to Gerry, the company said it doesn't sell the dress-up Jesus to provoke or offend people, but it sells it to reflect a diversity of opinion among its customer base.---

I'm speechless.

[Robert_Paulson2]

I looked pretty close and it seems that they had one.
the store is still standing weeks later.
portland oregon.
burnside and about 22nd NE...

[Cronos]

If this was a Dress-Up Mohammed figure that shop would be a smoking cinder by dawn....

You know there are some times when I can almost agree with Mo's followers....

[Cronos]

Actually, Mo's followers consider Isa Masih (Jesus Christ) to be a great prophet, on par with Musa (Moses) and Ibrahim (Abraham), so THEY may very well do the burning down for us. bUt that is the cowards way out. Isn't there any Freeper in that god-forsaken town that can protest/arson /do something?

[GeronL]

Hang in there baby??

Dress him up on the cross!!????

I wasn't upset until I saw he was on the cross!!

[OpusatFR]

I think we should complain about equal treatment.

Would mailing Urban Outfitters a nice letter demanding a ~dress-up Prophet Mohammad~ doll, and a ~dress-up Moses~, along with a dress-up Bhudda be appropriate? The copies of the letter can be sent to various mosques, temples, and Lamasaries for their information.

[johniegrad]

Apparently whoever made this crap thinks it would be funny to put the red cape and horns on the figure hanging on the cross. Who would buy this atrocity?

[hellinahandcart]

However, in an e-mail response to Gerry, the company said it doesn't sell the dress-up Jesus to provoke or offend people, but it sells it to reflect a diversity of opinion among its customer base.

Oh, okay. So it's just there to balance out all the devout and reverent religious items they sell.

What a relief. For an instant there, I was afraid they were only interested in showcasing that part of the diversity spectrum that includes frustrated, infantile, Jesus-hating cross-dressers.

[hellinahandcart]

They do have a Moses action-figure, and it's marked down from $10 to $3.99:

But he has no wardrobe...

[hellinahandcart]

Here's something you will NOT be buying your daughter.

[sauropod]

Correctamundo.

[mollynme]

Jesus-hating cross-dressers.

you took the words right out of my mouth

[BikePacker]

They have a web-based version as well...

I wonder, what would be the reaction if we had a "Dress-Up Mohamed", complete with pig-skin suit, and childbride?

[TexasRepublic]

I wonder, what would be the reaction if we had a "Dress-Up Mohamed", complete with pig-skin suit, and childbride?

Why don't we find out? After all, what is the worst they can do? Blow us up or something? Ha, ha, ha!

[Liz]

Link to Urban Outfitters executives.


http://216.239.53.104/search?q=cache:FLKAeIEtRsIJ:www.urbanoutfittersinc.com/profile/contact_officers.html