Bed Bath & Beyond has pulled pumpkins painted black with white mouths following complaints they were offensive because they resembled blackface.

The company was forced to act after some residents in Nyack, New York objected to a display of three jack-o'-lanterns on a porch outside a law firm there.

Law firm partner Mary Marzolla says the pumpkins were never meant to offend anyone and the firm represents people 'of all colors and faiths'.

Bed Bath & Beyond apologized, saying any offense was unintentional and that it 'immediately removed' the pumpkins from sale.

Bed Bath & Beyond was forced to act after some residents in Nyack complained about this display at a law firm. Bed Bath & Beyond apologized, saying any offense was unintentional and that it 'immediately removed' the pumpkins from sale

Law firm Feerick Nugent and McCartney removed the pumpkins, which had the name of each partner on them, less than 48 hours later after complaints

In statement the company said: 'This is a sensitive area and, though unintentional, we apologize for any offence caused. We have immediately removed the item from sale.'

Law firm Feerick Nugent and McCartney removed the pumpkins, which had the name of each partner on them, less than 48 hours later after complaints, News 12-Westchester reports.

Associate Alak Shah says the pumpkins, which were only available online, did not personally offend him, but since it did offend someone the firm took them down.

One local resident told News 12-Westchester: 'They're pumpkins. Black pumpkins. Idiots. That's all there is.'

NAACP director Wilbur Aldridge said the items show 'an extreme lack of sensitivity'.

He said: 'By now I would believe everyone [would] know that anything in blackface is offensive. Equally as offensive is that a retail store would have such an item in [their] inventory for general purchase.'

Of the decision to remove the display he added: 'I think they did the right thing but I also think that they're entitled to the way they feel.'

Law firm employee Marzolla added: 'We understand that someone complained about them and so once we got word of that we immediately took them down.

'We represent people of all colors and faiths and we would never do anything to exclude anyone from any community.'

Law firm partner Mary Marzolla, pictured, says the pumpkins were not meant to offend anyone

Associate Alak Shah says the pumpkins, which were only available online, did not personally offend him, but since it did offend someone the firm took them down

Bed Bath & Beyond still has black pumpkins online but without faces, pictured

Bed Bath & Beyond still has black pumpkins online but without faces.

The move to remove the pumpkins sparked some criticism online.

One user wrote: 'Who had the concern? Someone with an agenda. I’m black and I’m focused on more important issues than the color of pumpkins. Doubt this is a real issue.'

Another added: 'People are really out here getting offended by black pumpkins??????'

And one shared a picture of black pumpkins writing: 'Real black pumpkins grieve over the discrimination.'