Morrisons accused of ‘racist joke’ after monkey toy placed in world foods aisle

A woman has accused Morrisons of making a ‘racist joke’ after monkey teething toys were placed next to the African and Caribbean section.

Nadeane Smallwood, 37, spotted the mini monkey teething toy in the world foods aisle in the Brentford Waterfront store in West London on Saturday, June 20.

The toy, advertised for £5, was placed directly next to the sign with Jamaican and Nigerian flags, she said.

Morrisons have since apologized for the placement of the product and said the product was removed as soon as they were made aware of it.

Nadeane, an operations manager from Gunnersbury Park, said: ‘I noticed it straight away and I thought, why on earth did they put that there.

‘It’s not a big Morrisons, so I looked around the whole shop, and there was a bit of a pattern to where the hanging items are placed; the locations of them all made sense. They had thought about it; it was not random.’

She added: ‘It’s 100% a racist joke.’

Nadeane popped in for a few items when she found the toy.

Nadeane, who holds British and Jamaican citizenship, said the placement was ‘taking the p*ss’.

‘I have travelled a lot, and you get an odd comment, but I never experienced it so blatantly in the UK,’ she said.

‘I have never experienced anything so brazen, and all just for existing.’

Nadeane said she did not speak to any staff in the store because she was concerned there would be a big conflict.

A Morrisons spokesperson said: ‘We sincerely apologize for the placement of this product, it was never our intention to offend.

‘As soon as we were made aware, we removed the product.’

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