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CHEEKY COSMETICS: Printed on this 'Looking Good for Jesus' kit - containing a lip balm, body and hand cream, and a mirror - are phrases such as 'Redeem Your Reputation and More!' and 'Get His Attention'. A spokesman for Wing Tai Retail said that it was sorry if it had offended the Christian community. -- PHOTO: BLUEQ.COM
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A LOCAL retailer has yanked a range of cheeky cosmetics and bags with Jesus-inspired slogans like 'Get tight with Christ' and 'Redeem yourself in His eyes'.
Fashion retailer Topshop, which has eight stores here, made the move late last month following complaints from some Catholics who called the items 'disrespectful'.
A spokesman for Wing Tai Retail, which manages Topshops in Singapore, said it was sorry if it had offended the Christian community.
'We don't want to offend our customers,' said the spokesman, who asked not to be named.
At the centre of the controversy were body creams, lip balms, bags and other items marketed under the 'Looking Good for Jesus' line.
The lip balms had the message 'virtuous vanilla' on its packaging; the hand and body cream came with the words 'Get His attention' and 'Redeem your reputation and More!'
The phrases rankled Christians here, including accountant Grace Ong, 24.
The Catholic said: 'Why would anyone use religious figures to promote vanity products? It's very disrespectful and distasteful.'
There are eight Topshops in Singapore, but only three - stores in Wisma Atria, Marina Square and VivoCity - sold the religious-themed products, said the Wing Tai spokesman.
The spokesman was unable to provide more details on the offending items yesterday as the Wing Tai office was closed for the Chinese New Year holidays.
However, Wing Tai said the products are from Blue Q, an American brand.
Blue Q has released other products that poke fun at gays and politicians.
M&Co, a local firm which has imported Blue Q's products for the past two years, said Blue Q items 'poke fun at everyone but (do) not single out any particular group'.
'Blue Q's products are very interesting. Its humour is off the hook,' the spokesman said.
Still, Catholics like Nick Chui are not laughing.
The 27-year-old marketing executive wrote to Wing Tai last month after spotting the items at Topshop.
Mr Chui said: 'These products trivialise Jesus Christ and Christianity. Besides, there are also sexual innuendoes in the messages and the way Jesus is portrayed in these products.'
Mr Chui said he is thankful that Topshop has pulled the items from its shelves.
theresat@sph.com.sg
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