Mum of boy, 5, in H&M ‘monkey’ row says hoodie is NOT racist as it’s revealed tot thinks he’s famous because he’s a good model

THE mum of the young black model at the centre of the H&M racism row says she didn't think the controversial jumper was insensitive.

H&M sparked a fierce backlash over an advert showing five-year-old Liam Mango sporting a hoodie with the words "Coolest monkey in the jungle" on the front.

5

5

His Mum Terry, talking to Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby on ITV's This Morning, says she wouldn't have thought the shirt was racist if she had seen it during the photoshoot in Sweden.

Schofield asked her if it would have rung "alarm bells" if she was aware of it at the time.

She said: "I wouldn't have made that connection to anything other than my son modelling a shirt.

"Until that controversy, the whole furore that's going on, then you kind of look back and wonder if you would have noticed it and what would have been my initial response to it."

5

She added: "I know what racism is, I've had racist remarks directed at me.

"I've been called a monkey before on a cruise ship. My reaction was the same as the world's [to the H&M jumper]."

Liam's dad Frank said the adorable youngster is unaware of the controversy - but thinks he's famous because people love his modelling.

He said: "He's aware he's a superstar but he believes people love him because of his modelling."

5

The company tried to quash the criticism by apologising and withdrawing the ad and the item from sale. But the damage was done.

Style blogger Stephanie Yeboah originally shared the advert on Twitter, writing: "Whose idea was it @hm to have this little sweet black boy wear a jumper that says 'coolest monkey in the jungle'?"

The post was retweeted nearly 14,000 times within a day of being shared on January 7.

NBA basketball superstar LeBron James expressed his anger on Instagram on January 9, hours after the garment was removed from sale.

"@hm u got us all wrong! And we ain't going for it! Straight up!" James said, including a photo of the same ad but with a crown superimposed on the boy's head, and the text on the hooded sweater replaced by a crown.

5

"Enough about y'all and more of what I see when I look at this photo. I see a Young King!!

"The ruler of the world, an untouchable Force that can never be denied!" the athlete said.

Canadian R&B singer The Weeknd, who collaborated with H&M on its spring and autumn collections last year, meanwhile severed his contract with the company.

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368 . We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.