JC Penney has discontinued the sale of this merchandise.  Their official statement reads:

J.C. Penney is committed to being America’s destination for great style and great value for the whole family. We agree that the ‘Too pretty’ t-shirt does not deliver an appropriate message, and we have immediately discontinued its sale.  Our merchandise is intended to appeal to a broad customer base, not to offend them. We would like to apologize to our customers and are taking action to ensure that we continue to uphold the integrity of our merchandise that they have come to expect.

I am quite infuriated with this bland statement, so I’ve decided to just enumerate the reasons why.

1. We agree that the ‘Too pretty’ t-shirt does not deliver an appropriate message… – If you agree, like ABSOFUCKINGLUTELY agree that is does not deliver an appropriate message, why was this approved in the first place?  Why did it pass design and conceptualization?  Production?  Quality check?  I bet it’s made of fantastic material, but the content?  Really?!  COME ON.
2. Our merchandise is intended to appeal to a broad customer base, not to offend them. – So your broad customer base still includes young women thinking that they cannot do as well in academics as young men can?  Your broad customer base still includes girls aged 7 to 16 years old who have the mindset that women cannot be both pretty and smart?  Your broad customer base still includes young women that does not see the likes of Natalie Portman, Julia Stiles, Rashida Jones, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Jodie Foster as iconic women who are stunningly beautiful and from Ivy League schools?
3. We would like to apologize to our customers and are taking action to ensure that we continue to uphold the integrity of our merchandise that they have come to expect.  – I think by now what consumers have come to expect, especially after the Barbie fail in 1994, is the fact that the playing field is even for men and women.  The consumers have come to expect that purchased clothing is to boost their self-esteem, reaffirm their self-worth and NOT question their ability and their potential.

This is so disappointing.  And frustrating.

And I seriously hope they do something about the purchases of this item of clothing.  My nieces Myah, Madison and Lily are all in New Jersey and I’d be stumped if one day they saw someone wear that ugly piece of crap.  I do not want anything that will make them think that they are less capable and that the boys can just do all the work.