Mother of H&M child model reveals she was racially abused and called a 'monkey'

The mother of the child model at the centre of the H&M race row has revealed she was racially abused and called a monkey.

Swedish fashion giant H&M has faced widespread criticism over its advert showing a young, black model named Liam wearing a top with the slogan "coolest monkey in the jungle".

His parents Terry Mango and Frank Odhiambo told This Morning's Holly Willoughby and Philip Schofield that they "do not put the item of clothing and the 'monkey' with racism" and were not expecting the "furore" that followed.

But speaking from their home in Stockholm, Ms Mango also revealed how she had been racially abused herself and called a monkey.

She said: "I have had racist remarks directed at me first-hand. Even with the name 'monkey', I have been called a monkey before on a cruise ship and my reaction was the same as the world is reacting to me right now.

"But to put the t-shirt and the word 'monkey' with racism maybe that is not my way of looking at it. I'm just looking at Liam: black, young boy modelling a t-shirt that has the word 'monkey' on it. And I think everybody should respect different opinions based on racism."

Mr Odhiambo said he had not seen the top before the model shoot and "you don't think to spot something like that."

When asked if she had any sign during the shoot of the controversy to unfold, Ms Mango said: "Not for me, I wouldn't see a connection for anything other than my son modelling a shirt.

"And until the controversy now with the whole furore that is going on then you kind of look back and wonder if you had noticed it, what would be your initial or my initial response to it.

His parents said Liam was unaware of the backlash over the advert and that he believed people think he's a "superstar."

The H&M "monkey" shirt was first brought to light by blogger Stephanie Yeboah, who wrote: "Whose idea was it at @hm to have this little sweet black boy wear a jumper that says ‘coolest monkey in the jungle’? I mean. What."

The backlash spiralled when singer The Weeknd - who has previously modelled for H&M - cut ties with the retailer.

The retailer apologised over the incident and said it had removed the image from its website and that the hoodie was withdrawn from sale.

"We are deeply sorry that the picture was taken, and we also regret the actual print. Therefore, we have not only removed the image from our channels, but also the garment from our product offering," the firm said.

But the five-year-old boy's mother, a Kenyan national living in Stockholm, Sweden, later spoke out to say she did not understand the outrage.

"Am the mum and this is one of hundreds of outfits my son has modelled... Stop crying Wolf all the time, unnecessary issue here... Get over it," wrote Ms Mango in a social media post which has now been deleted.

In another message, she added: "That's my son.... have been to all photoshoots and this was not an exception, everyone is entitled to their opinion about this.

"I really don't understand but not coz am choosing not to but because it's not my way of thinking, sorry.”

She told Gulf News that she is shielding her son from the media storm, about which he has "no idea".