West London Morrisons accused of making ‘racist joke’ after monkey toy placed in world foods aisle

Customer Nadeane Smallwood, 37, claimed the placement of the toy appeared ‘intentional’

A woman has accused supermarket Morrisons of making a “racist joke” after monkey teething toys were placed next to the African and Caribbean section. Nadeane Smallwood, 37, spotted the miniature monkey toys in the world foods aisle at the Brentford Waterfront store in West London on Saturday, June 20.

The toy, priced at £5, had been positioned directly beside the sign bearing Jamaican and Nigerian flags, she said. Morrisons has since issued an apology over the placement of the product, confirming it was removed as soon as the matter was brought to their attention.

Nadeane, an operations manager from Gunnersbury Park, said: “I noticed it straight away and I thought, why on earth did they put that there. It’s not a big Morrisons, so I looked around the whole shop, and there was a bit of a pattern to where the hanging items are placed; the locations of them all made sense. They had thought about it; it was not random.”

She added: “I think it was intentional and that the monkey toy was placed there because someone was having a laugh and thought they were being funny. If I were looking for a baby teething ring, I would not be going down the world food aisle; I would go to the baby aisle, so it was there on purpose. It’s 100 per cent a racist joke.”

Nadeane had popped into the store to pick up a handful of items when she came across the toy. Nadeane, who holds both British and Jamaican citizenship, told Talk to the Press: “It’s taking the p***. I was born and raised in London. I know the correlation. I get the joke. I get the p***taking. I have travelled a lot, and you get an odd comment, but I never experienced it so blatantly in the UK. I have never experienced anything so brazen, and all just for existing.”

Nadeane revealed she chose not to approach any members of staff while in the store, fearing the situation could escalate into a significant confrontation.

A Morrisons spokesperson said: “We sincerely apologise for the placement of this product, it was never our intention to cause offence. As soon as we were made aware we removed the product.”

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