Update | Topshop withdraws 'yellow-face' jewellery line after racism complaints
Freedom Found collection recalled Asian stereotypes associated with Hollywood films of the 20th century, when white actors wearing makeup played roles such as Fu Manchu
Fashion retailer Topshop has apologised and withdrawn “yellow face” jewellery from sale after complaints that it was racist.
The Freedom Found collection was spotted by a customer at a store in Britain, who posted photos of the jewellery – featuring the heads of yellow face characters – to Twitter.
When the customer complained to the store manager, she was told it was “vintage style and not racist”, she wrote on Twitter.
Yellow face refers to Asian stereotypes associated with Hollywood films of the 20th century, when white actors wearing makeup played roles such as Fu Manchu or Charlie Chan.
The characters featured in the jewellery resemble those portrayed in anti-Chinese propaganda of the 1880s, when the Chinese exclusion act was still in force in the United States.