Cherry Kitten Removes “I Am Jane Doe” Apparel After Backlash Over Cornell Seven Scandal

Last weekend, apparel brand Cherry Kitten posted an Instagram promotion for T-shirts, crop tops and sports bras featuring the slogan “I Am Jane Doe.” The company wrote, “Until there’s none of us, there’s all of us,” and said it would donate 5 percent of net sales to national women’s organizations.

Why the “I Am Jane Doe” slogan sparked controversy

The hashtag #IAmJaneDoe began making headlines after an anonymous woman accused seven members of a Cornell University fraternity of sexual assault. Many sexual assault survivors used the hashtag in solidarity after trolls attempted to identify them on social media. All seven defendants deny wrongdoing, and none has been charged with a crime.

Although the message was intended to express solidarity, critics argued that Cherry Kitten was appropriating it for commercial purposes. The brand is known for tank tops and crop tops featuring slogans such as “Whatever you say, don’t give me a cigarette” and “AI can’t generate boobs like these.”

Cherry Kitten quickly faced backlash on social media, with users accusing the company of exploiting a serious sexual assault scandal. One person wrote, “Using the sexual assault of the Cornell Seven as an idea for merch and donating just 5% to women’s charities… oh cherry kitten. You’re fucked.” The post received 2.2 million views.

Cherry Kitten deletes the post and apologizes

According to a screenshot of the deleted Instagram post, Cherry Kitten removed the promotion and apologized for “turning an actual, very serious situation into a commercial product.” The brand did not respond to WIRED’s request for comment.

Cherry Kitten was not the only seller offering apparel connected to the Cornell Seven scandal, which has drawn outrage around the world.

“I Am Jane Doe” merchandise appears across online marketplaces

Amazon showed more than 6,000 results for “I Am Jane Doe” T-shirts. Etsy and Redbubble also listed T-shirts, sweatshirts, a hat, a beaded necklace, a mug and a bumper sticker.

The listings used terms including “feminist,” “true crime” and “protest.” Redbubble listings also included the term “Lizzie Borden.” Many featured AI-generated images of women with shiny hair and large smiles modeling the products.

Some Etsy sellers continue offering the merchandise

One Etsy seller, who asked not to be named to protect her privacy because of the sensitive nature of the case, runs a three-year-old shop selling T-shirts with progressive slogans. Her “I Am Jane Doe” sweatshirts were available in ash, dark chocolate and purple, priced from $19.53 to $27.93. Since October 1, she had sold 21 items.