November 11, 2015
Ah, the holiday season. A time for warm drinks, sweet treats and ugly sweaters.
Target is currently selling an "ugly" Christmas sweater that has the store receiving criticism.
In its latest line of "ugly" attire for the season, the store is selling a red sweater that reads: "OCD: Obsessive Christmas Disorder."
Some consumers have expressed that the piece of clothing makes light of a well-known mental disorder that goes by the same acronym. Obsessive-compulsive disorder affects about 2.2 million American adults, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
Many took to social media to criticize the message.
@Target as someone with OCD I'd really appreciate it if you didn't sell my illness as a fashion statement pic.twitter.com/34egtLAkof
— Reign (@ReignMurphy) October 25, 2015
Hey @target your OCD sweater is out of line. My husband has OCD. He sees a doctor monthly and takes meds. It's a serious disease.
— aliceinthewater (@aliceinthewater) November 11, 2015
disappointed to hear that @Target does not intend to remove that awful OCD sweater from their stores
— mr. bulldops (@mearbeer) November 11, 2015
Others found humor in the design and took Target's side.
I suffer #OCD worse than Jack Nicholson in As Good As it Gets. #Target's OCD sweater amused me. You keep that sweater @Target @ChrisSommerTX
— Eighties Dude (@HootyHaHa) November 11, 2015
#Target love the sweater #OCD and as a person who suffers from this disease it doesn't bother me a bit 😊 I want one 🎄
— Kelly Braswell (@flowergirl32068) November 11, 2015
I'm #OCD and I think the sweater is a great Ugly Christmas Sweater addition @Target #dontpullthisitem
— Rich Daddy (@SourSpeech) November 11, 2015
According to AdWeek, Target is not the only store marketing the phrase this holiday season. "OCD" items were reportedly spotted at the restaurant Cracker Barrel.
"We never want to disappoint our guests and we apologize for any discomfort," a Target spokesperson said in an email to TIME. "We currently do not have plans to remove this sweater."
