NEW YORK CITY (NBC12/CNN) - Retailer Bed Bath & Beyond has removed black jack-o-lanterns after "blackface complaints."
Objections to the pumpkins first arose in Nyack, New York.
A law firm had the pumpkins displayed on their porch with each partners name on the pumpkin. After the controversy, they removed the pumpkins within 48 hours.
"We understand that someone complained about them and so once we got word of that we immediately took them down," partner Mary Marzolla said.
NAACP director Wilbur Aldridge saying it shows "an extreme lack of sensitivity."
“I think they did the right thing but I also think that they're entitled to the way they feel," he said
Mary Marzolla says the pumpkins were never meant to offend anybody.
"We represent people of all colors and faiths and we would never do anything to exclude anyone from any community," Marzolla said.
Her associate, Alak Shah, said he never thought twice about the jack o lanterns.
"It's just nothing I take offense to personally but since it did offend someone we took proactive steps to take it down," Shah said.
Though since they've been removed, both attorneys are left wondering why the decorations didn't raise flags at the store where they were purchased.
"If you're going to bed bath and you don't think they're going to be selling offensive material,"Marzolla said
Bed Bath and Beyond apologized, saying that any offense was unintentional and that they've "immediately removed" the pumpkins from sale.
The store says they took action after we reached out but would not tell us if they'd received any other complaints.
