Boohoo, a UK-based online fashion retailer, has come under fire for selling a pyjama set priced at £17 (Rs 1,530) with 'Obsessive Christmas Disorder' written on it. The caption did not go down well with social media users who criticised Boohoo trying to make a funny reference to the mental health disorder. Social media users called it offensive to people who suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
One of the tweets questioning Boohoo's controversial line reads, "Hey @boohoo, what's with these pyjamas? OCD is a real, valid mental illness, that effects and can destroy lives. Its not something to make jokes about. I know for a fact that there would not be pyjamas with jokes about depression, bipolar disorder, anorexia etc.[sic]" Dolce & Gabbana Called Out for Their Racist Ad by Diet Prada, Forced to Cancel Shanghai Fashion Show.
According to OCD UK, approximately 12 out of every 1,000 people suffer from the disorder. It affects people of all age groups and is generally thoughts and feelings that occur to them over and over again. It "occurs when a person gets caught in a cycle of obsessions and compulsions". Many expressed displeasure about the 'Plus OCD Christmas Lounge Set' being sold on Boohoo as a part of the ongoing festive season.
Here are some of the Twitter reactions:
Hey @boohoo, what's with these pyjamas? OCD is a real, valid mental illness, that effects and can destroy lives. Its not something to make jokes about. I know for a fact that there would not be pyjamas with jokes about depression, bipolar disorder, anorexia etc. #OCDUK @OCDUK pic.twitter.com/aW0R1UJxUi
— Eleanorb (@BetsyEllie) November 29, 2018
Christmas marketing does not go well with Twitterati
OCD is a widely misunderstood mental illness&the pyjama set pictured just trivialises it... it makes a mockery of the debilitating impact OCD has. I don’t take offence, I just think it’s piss poor of @boohoo to be so ignorant.
— Helen (@CompassionateQ) December 5, 2018
Mara Wilson, Mental health awareness advocate said people who suffer from the disorder often find it offensive when others use OCD in improper circumstances. The Independent quoted her as saying, "It annoys me when people talk about OCD as a personality trait, because I think that one of the reasons that I didn’t get treatment for a long time is because I thought OCD was just an attribute.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 07, 2018 09:28 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).