A suburban Sydney shopping centre has been forced to issue an apology after it featured a mannequin display with a face mask adorned with Nazi symbols including the dreaded swastika.
Photos of a mannequin adorned with the offending face mask were published on social media by a shopper at Westfield Miranda in Sydney’s south yesterday afternoon.
The shopper posting to Instagram: “So, this morning at @westfieldmiranda I walked past this store and admired their minimalist window display of mannequins wearing only masks… Until I looked a little closer and realised the mask fabric features the symbol of the Nazi Party!”
Centre management immediately removed the offending item and issued an apology calling it a “genuine mistake”.
A Westfield spokesman telling News.com.au: “As soon as the centre was made aware, the team spoke with the retailer who expressed it was a genuine mistake.
“The mask was immediately removed from display and will not be available for sale,” he said.
Social media was also quick to jump on the blunder.
“So Westfield Miranda, what the hell?” penned one.
“Wow, this is next level creepy,” another remarked.
“And this is why we need to keep educating people on history, so they can think critically when they see iconography like this,” another said.
“Yep, sounds like the Shire,” said another in relation to the area’s apparent white suburban roots.