Retailer Pulls ‘A Gay in a Manger’ Merchandise After Backlash From Christians

British retailer Debenhams has recently pulled “disgraceful” Christmas themed merchandise from its online store following backlash. Sweaters and mugs depicted the Christmas manger with a rainbow and the words “a gay in a manger.” Christians in the U.K.—and around the world—are calling out the retailer for mocking religion.

“Distasteful and disgraceful. A Debenhams boycott is in order,” said one customer.

Christian Groups Boycott Debenhams Over Controversial ‘A Gay in a Manger’ Sweater

Controversy over the images that retailers choose to put on merchandise is becoming increasingly common. For example, in 2023 Target removed items that combined Satanic messaging alongside LGBTQ+ Pride Month merchandise.

This time, British retailer Debenhams navigated heated feedback from Christians in regards to merchandise including the phrase, “a gay in a manger.” According to Daily Mail, sweaters and mugs depicted a traditional Christmas manger scene but with a radiant rainbow bursting from the manger. The words, “Gay in a manger,” accompanied the art.

“Debenhams would not mock Islam in this way,” said former British Parliament member Jacob Rees-Mogg.

One religious leaders who responded was Spirit Embassy Church in Tottenham Pastor Rikki Doolan: “What makes you think @Debenhams that it is OK to insult the Christian faith in such a disgusting way as this? Do you think it’s right to freely mock our faith and God like this? We as British Christians will not tolerate this.”

“The main issue at hand here is,” Doolan went on to explain, “if you are going to mock people’s faith then why do you only do it to Christianity? What is it that makes you feel it’s okay to do it to us? Unless you have gay Muhammad and Buddah T-shirts that we don’t know of?”

An advocacy group, Christian Concern, agreed. “The company producing these products should be boycotted,” the group said in on X.

Disgraceful that @Debenhams were selling this product. A full public apology must follow. https://t.co/N3IXbJx0hp pic.twitter.com/uVqyHqXq5V

— Christian Concern (@CConcern) November 8, 2024

People agreed with the call for boycott and the poorly designed merchandise.

One said, “Distasteful and disgraceful. A Debenhams boycott is in order.”

RELATED: Katy Perry Posts Edited Version of Harrison Butker Speech for ‘Girls’ and ‘Gays’

“Do you think it’s okay to make fun of my religion and my beliefs by stocking this awful product?” another asked the retailer. “I have shopped at Debenhams for 22 years and spent a lot of money there each month. Not anymore! Would you mock Islam like this? Muhammad’s gay baby?”