Nike Black & Tan (© NIKE, Inc./http://aka.ms/dsju0g)

Nike stumbles in Ireland with offensively named shoe

3/12/2012

To celebrate both St. Patrick's Day and casual drinking, Nike has released a pair of limited-edition shoes, "The Guinness" and a two-toned monstrosity called the "Black and Tan." In the U.S., a black and tan is a drink made by stacking Guinness and a pale ale in the same pint glass but in Ireland -- where the shoes will be available -- the Black and Tans were a paramilitary group who attacked a number of civilians during the Irish War of Independence. The Irish Times says that Nike was "presumably unaware" of the connection but Ciarian Staunton, president of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform was less forgiving. "Is there no one at Nike able to Google 'Black and Tan,'" he wondered.

 

In 2006, Ben and Jerry's apologized after releasing a "Black and Tan" ice cream flavor.

 

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Should Nike apologize? Rename the shoe?