SEATTLE, WA – Amazon has pulled a controversial sweatshirt from its marketplace after critics said the design mirrored the bloodied clothing conservative activist Charlie Kirk was wearing when he was fatally shot earlier this week.
The white hoodie, marketed under the brand “sjosio,” featured the word FREEDOM in black letters with a red splatter resembling blood across the final “M.” The product listing, which had been live for $22.99, was removed Friday after backlash erupted online.
A viral post from the account Libs of TikTok accused the e-commerce giant of “selling a BLOODSTAINED ‘Freedom’ sweatshirt” that matched Kirk’s outfit at the time of his assassination. The post quickly racked up thousands of shares, with users demanding answers from Amazon.
The hoodie was labeled as a novelty unisex pullover, available in multiple colors and sizes, but the blood-spatter design drew sharp criticism following Kirk’s death. Amazon confirmed the listing had been taken down but did not provide further comment on how it made it to the platform.
Kirk, the founder of conservative group Turning Point USA, was killed during a public appearance on Wednesday. Law enforcement continues to investigate the shooting, and no motive has been released.
The controversy highlights ongoing scrutiny over third-party sellers on Amazon, with critics charging the company does not adequately vet listings before they go live.
Ad: Save every day with Amazon Deals: Check out today's daily deals on Amazon.
The seller’s page also appears to have been removed from the platform at this time.
Key Points
- Amazon removed a hoodie showing the word FREEDOM with blood-like splatter after complaints it resembled Charlie Kirk’s final outfit.
- Libs of TikTok first flagged the item, sparking widespread backlash on social media.
- Kirk was assassinated Wednesday during a public event; police are still investigating.
In the aftermath of Kirk’s killing, Amazon found itself at the center of a firestorm it never saw coming.