A STORE boss in Ireland has been slammed blacking up in a bid to attract punters to his Black Friday deals.
Smyths Homevalue, in Enniscorthy, County Wexford, shared the promotional video showcasing discounts for Black Friday.
In the video, the store boss – who is dressed all in black, and has painted his skin black – says: “You know what it is this weekend?
“We’re just getting dressed up because it’s Black Friday weekend and we always have deals and deals – but I’ve pushed to boat out on this one.”
He added: “There’s specials all over the shop.”
The video ends as he promises: “If you want serious deals come to Smyths Homevalue, this weekend, all weekend.”
“Blackface” is considered racist because it harks back to 19th century minstrel shows in the US, when white actors used it to dehumanise African-Americans on stage.
Social media users have slammed the store for the promotion, however.
One wrote: “Holy f*** @smythsHomevalue have gone Blackface for Black Friday. What the hell, you could not make this stuff up.”
Another said: “How on earth did anyone think that this was in any way appropriate?”
A further user posted: “At best, that’s shockingly bad judgement.”
Earlier this year pupils at a £33k-a-year boarding school sparked outrage after “blacking up” and dressing as slaves for a leaving picture.
Pupils at the exclusive Oratory School in leafy Berkshire arrived at the traditional photoshoot in cotton worker outfits before getting turned away by the furious headmaster.
And this Halloween a Tube passenger was confronted on his blackface costume, and when told he couldn’t do it he simply responded: “Why not?”
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However after a backlash the video has been removed.
The Sun Online has approached Smyths Homevalue for comment.