Bloomingdale’s apologizes over holiday ad that implies date rape

High-end retail giant Bloomingdale’s is apologizing after an ad in its holiday catalog sparked online backlash, with many claiming the it encouraged date rape. On Tuesday, this image from the company’s 2015 holiday campaign made the rounds on social media.

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The ad reads: “Spike your best friend’s eggnog when they’re not looking,” and shows a man in a suit glancing at an unsuspecting woman.

Many on Twitter expressed varying degrees of outrage at the implications:

Or don't and quit being a creep… #Bloomingdales pic.twitter.com/Liu8DKMMnP

— Kristen Alderson (@krisalderson) November 10, 2015

Rape culture at its finest. Well done, #Bloomingdales. You are garbage. https://t.co/5ZQSzrPPHN

— Lainey Croucher (@ebalagia) November 10, 2015

That Bloomingdales ad is horrific. How was that ever approved let alone thought of as a good idea?! Despicable.

— Kirby (@oc_11) November 10, 2015

how did bloomingdales think that ad was a good idea

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— Jessica Quail (@jessica_sarahh) November 11, 2015

This ad is ridiculous #Bloomingdales https://t.co/yry9c83S2M

— Garcelle Beauvais (@GarcelleB) November 11, 2015

The retailer, which is a division of Macy’s, later issued this apology on Twitter:

We heard your feedback about our catalog copy, which was inappropriate and in poor taste. Bloomingdale's sincerely apologizes.

— Bloomingdale's (@Bloomingdales) November 10, 2015

A Bloomingdale’s spokesperson has issued a separate statement to MSNBC:

“In reflection of recent feedback, the copy we used in our current catalog was inappropriate and in poor taste. Bloomingdale’s sincerely apologizes for this error in judgement.”