Gap Kids has apologized after an ad for Ellen DeGeneres' clothing line sparked a social media backlash for having a racial undertone.

The company shared pictures for the GapKids X ED campaign on Twitter on Saturday with the caption: 'Meet the kids who are proving girls can do anything.'

'We all have the power to empower one another,' is the tagline for the line – aimed to encourage young girls to 'follow their passions.'

But Twitter users immediately spotted the flaw in the four photographs posted on Gap's Twitter account – and called the company out on presenting the only black girl as a prop.

A Gap Kids ad for Ellen DeGeneres' clothing line has sparked a social media backlash for having a racial undertone after presenting the only black girl in the campaign as an arm rest

Twitter users immediately called the company out on presenting the only black girl as a prop

The company was blasted for only using one 'token' child of color – and presenting her as an arm rest for a white girl. The white girls, meanwhile, are shown doing gymnastics, DJing and using a telescope.

Fatima La'Juan Muse said: '@GapKids proving girls can do anything… unless she's Black. Then all she can do is bear the weight of White girls. #EpicFail.'

Muse added that the picture suggests there is lack of diversity in the boardroom at Gap as 'most people of color would have immediately recognized the error.'

'Thanks for perfectly illustrating what 'passive racism' looks like in mainstream media,' wrote Jessica Wow.

The GapKids campaign presents other girls with telescopes or performing acrobatic moves

Twitter users immediately spotted the flaw in the four photographs posted on Gap's Twitter account – and called the company out on presenting the only black girl as a prop

The line, a collaboration with Ellen DeGeneres, is aimed to encourage young girls to 'follow their passions'

'You have just one black kid, @GapKids, and she's a white kid's armrest. No eyebrows were raised at this? Really?' said another user.

'Why is the little black girl being usd as an arm rest? I'm sure there were better photos taken. You should fix it,' another Twitter user added.

Meanwhile, filmmaker Matthew Cherry produced a GapKids campaign from the past that used a similar shot – but with a black girl using a white girl's head as an armrest.

'Does the @GapKids pic on the left make the pic on the right okay? Let's debate,' he asked.

Filmmaker Matthew Cherry produced a GapKids campaign from the past that used a similar shot – but with a black girl using a white girl's head as an armrest

Debbie Felix, a spokesperson for GapKids, apologized for any offence caused and said the company will remove the image in question from the campaign.

'As a brand with a proud 46 year history of championing diversity and inclusivity, we appreciate the conversation that has taken place and are sorry to anyone we've offended,' she told Daily Mail Online.

'This GapKids campaign highlights true stories of talented girls who are celebrating creative self-expression and sharing their messages of empowerment.