Shoppers threaten to boycott ALDI after it pulls Roald Dahl book containing word 'slut' off shelves

Updated

Shoppers have threatened to boycott the supermarket chain ALDI after it pulled a Roald Dahl book containing the phrase "dirty slut" off its shelves.

ALDI Australia removed the book, Revolting Rhymes, after complaints about offensive language, namely when the Prince says to Cinderella: "Who is this dirty slut? Off with her nut."

The company released a statement saying it takes complaints from shoppers seriously.

"ALDI Australia has withdrawn the Roald Dahl Picture book entitled Revolting Rhymes from its Special Buys range, following comments by a limited number of concerned customers regarding the language used in this particular book," the statement said.

"The range of Roald Dahl Picture Books went on sale on Wednesday 27 August 2014 and the remainder of the range will still be available to consumers at $4.99 each.

"ALDI Australia would like to inform all of our customers that we take the concerns of the community seriously."

But customers have taken to social media, demanding the children's book be returned for sale, with some calling for a boycott of the chain on its Facebook page.

"Can I buy Dahl's Revolting Rhymes? Oh that's right, Aldi censors it. Boycott Aldi's until Dahl is reinstated," Vikki Pollard wrote.

"Dear Aldi, you practised censorship yesterday, bowing to the opinions of a small number of people who unfortunately did not appreciate Roald Dahl's humour in his classic 'Revolting Rhymes'. You have also contravened the worldwide policy of 'Freedom To Read'. Now, that's truly revolting! Reinstate the book in all your stores, please!" Sharon McGuinness wrote.

Professor Kay Margretts of Melbourne University said many great writers used language considered to be obscene in their careers.

"This book is a parody on fairy tales - it's about comedy and funny words. If we look back over history some of the great writers did these types of things - Shakespeare did this kind of thing," she said.

Sorry, this video has expired Video: Shopper backlash as ALDI pulls Roald Dahl book (7pm TV News VIC)

"It's one little word, in a book, but it's just part of literature, it's part of the richness we're exposed to in literature. Yes, I think it's inappropriate censorship."

While many Facebook users agree the removal of the book is censorship, linguist Roley Sussex said Dahl's choice of words should not be so quickly excused.

"Slut's got two main meanings - it comes from about 1402. One is dirty and unkempt woman, and the other is a woman of low morals.

"I'm afraid it's always been derogatory and it's only now that we're coming to realise, in the context of other discriminatory language, how bad it is," he said.

The book remains off ALDI shelves and ALDI has not yet responded to the criticism on Facebook.

Topics: offbeat, australia

First posted