Real reason T-Shirt Hell took down most offensive shirts: Owner was poisioned. - GoFuckYourself.com

Meta Ridley · 06-07-2005, 08:44 AM

Despite Possible Poisoning, T-Shirt Hell Brings Back Their Most Offensive Shirts
Tuesday June 7, 11:11 am ET

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 7, 2005--Las Vegas based internet company T-Shirt Hell.com made a name for itself by selling t-shirts that no other site would dare to offer. They had shirts that satirized 9/11; racial and religious stereotypes; even the recent Tsunami. Last month, they took down their most offensive shirts and went as far as to issue an apology. Today, those same shirts are available, again. Why the sudden change of heart, and change of heart, again?
Founder, Owner, and President Aaron Schwarz released the following statement: "Towards the end of April I believe an attempt was made on my life. This was not an idle threat: this was a trip to the emergency room. The doctors tell me that whatever I ingested, it came close to killing me."

"I believe the motivation behind the attack was the 'Worse Than Hell' section of my website." said Schwarz. "Someone was so offended; they decided I deserved to die or to at least be seriously hurt." Unfortunately for Schwarz, the list of people with that motive includes just about everyone on the planet. "Who have I offended?" asked Schwarz. "How much time do you have?"

"I took down 'Worse Than Hell' because we needed some time to sort things out." said Schwarz. "I was concerned for the safety of my family and my employees. So, we let everybody know what happened and that the stakes had been raised. Anybody who didn't want to stay was free to go. With the exception of one employee, everyone has decided to stick it out. My family and friends have supported the decision to bring the shirts back."

"I take great comfort from the fact that my employees and my family stood behind me. We've also received an enormous amount of support from our fans. Most continued to shop with us while they called us cowards and sellouts. That was nice, too."

Schwarz is sticking with one change he announced last month: that is his desire to help those less fortunate than himself. "Which is pretty much everybody." jokes the millionaire entrepreneur. He is still going to donate up to 30% of his profits to charities that are involved with the groups, and events he satirizes on his site, as well as groups that support free speech.

"I've decided that I'm willing to be a martyr for freedom of speech and even though I may be risking my life, it's a chance I'm willing to take for a philosophy I believe in." said Schwarz. "If people can't take a joke, that's their problem. What I do is comedy. I have no ill intentions, just a passionate, crude sense of humor. If someone wants to kill me over a funny t-shirt, so be it."

LuSiD · 06-07-2005, 08:49 AM

Good find.

galleryseek · 06-07-2005, 08:50 AM

i saw the whole story on CNN last night.

HarrytheNazi · 06-07-2005, 08:53 AM

love t-shirt hell

RuthB · 06-07-2005, 08:58 AM

drama! it seemed weird at the time that they did that, especially with them categorically stating they weren't being sued - harsh the guy was poisoned, but good to see his resolve wasn't broken.

Maybe now their shirts will start to get funny again.......

Cains · 06-07-2005, 09:00 AM

great PR campaign?

FilthyRob · 06-07-2005, 09:00 AM

lol, damn that's a good one

alexg · 06-07-2005, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cains

great PR campaign?

i thought this as well

bet their sales are better then ever

kristin · 06-07-2005, 09:08 AM

Their shirts are just wrong ... but I love it!

skillfull · 06-07-2005, 09:14 AM

this guy is a marketing genius

Manowar · 06-07-2005, 09:16 AM

sounds like some great PR

06-07-2005, 08:44 AM	#1
Meta Ridley Confirmed User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: The land of ruleface and kickass Posts: 3,433	Real reason T-Shirt Hell took down most offensive shirts: Owner was poisioned. Despite Possible Poisoning, T-Shirt Hell Brings Back Their Most Offensive Shirts Tuesday June 7, 11:11 am ET LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 7, 2005--Las Vegas based internet company T-Shirt Hell.com made a name for itself by selling t-shirts that no other site would dare to offer. They had shirts that satirized 9/11; racial and religious stereotypes; even the recent Tsunami. Last month, they took down their most offensive shirts and went as far as to issue an apology. Today, those same shirts are available, again. Why the sudden change of heart, and change of heart, again? Founder, Owner, and President Aaron Schwarz released the following statement: "Towards the end of April I believe an attempt was made on my life. This was not an idle threat: this was a trip to the emergency room. The doctors tell me that whatever I ingested, it came close to killing me." "I believe the motivation behind the attack was the 'Worse Than Hell' section of my website." said Schwarz. "Someone was so offended; they decided I deserved to die or to at least be seriously hurt." Unfortunately for Schwarz, the list of people with that motive includes just about everyone on the planet. "Who have I offended?" asked Schwarz. "How much time do you have?" "I took down 'Worse Than Hell' because we needed some time to sort things out." said Schwarz. "I was concerned for the safety of my family and my employees. So, we let everybody know what happened and that the stakes had been raised. Anybody who didn't want to stay was free to go. With the exception of one employee, everyone has decided to stick it out. My family and friends have supported the decision to bring the shirts back." "I take great comfort from the fact that my employees and my family stood behind me. We've also received an enormous amount of support from our fans. Most continued to shop with us while they called us cowards and sellouts. That was nice, too." Schwarz is sticking with one change he announced last month: that is his desire to help those less fortunate than himself. "Which is pretty much everybody." jokes the millionaire entrepreneur. He is still going to donate up to 30% of his profits to charities that are involved with the groups, and events he satirizes on his site, as well as groups that support free speech. "I've decided that I'm willing to be a martyr for freedom of speech and even though I may be risking my life, it's a chance I'm willing to take for a philosophy I believe in." said Schwarz. "If people can't take a joke, that's their problem. What I do is comedy. I have no ill intentions, just a passionate, crude sense of humor. If someone wants to kill me over a funny t-shirt, so be it." __________________ [email protected]

06-07-2005, 08:49 AM	#2
LuSiD Confirmed User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: South Florida Posts: 434	Good find. __________________ I bought a dog the other day... I named him Stay. It's fun to call him... "Come here, Stay! Come here, Stay!" He went insane. Now he just ignores me and keeps typing.

06-07-2005, 08:58 AM	#5
RuthB Let's Get Paxumized! Industry Role: Join Date: May 2005 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 7,247	drama! it seemed weird at the time that they did that, especially with them categorically stating they weren't being sued - harsh the guy was poisoned, but good to see his resolve wasn't broken. Maybe now their shirts will start to get funny again....... __________________ Send & Receive Mass Global Payments - Mass P2P/Wire/EFT/SEPA - Adult Industry Friendly - Award Winning Payment Service - Fast, Reliable & Secure! Paxum ...... Paxum Bank Email: [email protected] ~ Telegram: PaxumRuth

06-07-2005, 09:00 AM	#7
FilthyRob Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Anaheim - CA Posts: 6,741	lol, damn that's a good one __________________ AKA - Clubsexy

06-07-2005, 09:08 AM	#9
kristin GOO! Industry Role: Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Back Home : ) Posts: 9,768	Their shirts are just wrong ... but I love it! __________________ Vacares rules. "Usually only fat guys have the kind of knowledge and ability that Kristin has."

06-07-2005, 08:50 AM	#3
galleryseek Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 8,234	i saw the whole story on CNN last night.

06-07-2005, 08:53 AM	#4
HarrytheNazi Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 1,164	love t-shirt hell

06-07-2005, 09:00 AM	#6
Cains Confirmed User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 407	great PR campaign?

06-07-2005, 09:14 AM	#10
skillfull Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Quebec Calisse Posts: 4,716	this guy is a marketing genius __________________ mind at underdark dot cc SEO Analyst Thunder-Ball.net - Member

06-07-2005, 09:16 AM	#11
Manowar jellyfish Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 71,528	sounds like some great PR