Amazon Pulls Controversial Listings After #BoycottAmazon Hysteria
In a quick‑fire move last Tuesday, Amazon.com Inc decided to yank certain product pages from its international sites, clearing up doormats and underwear that sported sacred Hindu symbols. The decision sparked a kind of social‑media frenzy—think #BoycottAmazon trending on Indian Twitter, with users sharing screenshots of cloths emblazoned with Ganesha the elephant god and other revered imagery.
What the Portal Deported
- Doormats bearing the Ganesha icon.
- Underwear with symbolic motifs that some Hindus consider holy.
- Other items displayed on overseas Amazon sites that raised eyebrows.
Amazon’s own statement: “We are taking down the products in question. All sellers must follow our selling guidelines and those who do not will be subject to action, including potential removal of their account.” While the listings are sold by individual vendors and not directly by Amazon, the marketplace brand is tightening its belt on non‑compliant merchandise.
A Repeated Rumble with the Indian Market
It’s not the first time the e‑commerce behemoth has rattled its Indian shoppers. In 2017, the Prime Minister’s office dropped a warning that it might revoke Amazon employees’ visas if the company didn’t pull doormats that copied the tricolor flag from its Canadian storefront. Fast forward to 2019, and the sales of Hindu‑god‑laden toilet seat covers on Amazon’s U.S. site had Indian consumers calling for a boycott. Both times, Amazon again pulled those listings.
Gaurav Goel’s Tweet—Because Politics Loves a Confessional
In a recent tweet, BJP spokesman Gaurav Goel urged offended Indians to file complaints with cyber or local police, nudging his party’s vocal base toward a formal grievance rather than an online rant.
Why It Matters to Amazon’s Bottom Line
India is a growth hot‑spot for Amazon, a country the tech giant has pledged more than $6 billion (S$8 billion) for expansion. Even its cloud arm, Amazon Web Services, plans to invest 207.61 billion rupees (S$1.1 billion) in Telangana’s southern region to build new data centres. A sudden exodus of Indian customers would sting more than a broken bottle cap—so Amazon is keen to keep pockets open, even if that means playing the cultural diplomacy game carefully.
Bottom line: when markets go wild over religious symbols, it’s a reminder that corporate giants can’t ignore the nuances of local sentiment. The next time we buy a doormat or a pair of briefs, let’s hope Amazon will double‑check before listing them—lest it carts up another controversy that could turn a simple shopping spree into a global spectacle.
