Family Store withdraws Kelly's T-Shirts
Thursday, 23rd January 2003.
A HIGH street clothing chain has cleared its shelves of a new T-shirt bearing a catchphrase from troubled star Matthew Kelly's TV show Stars In Their Eyes.
Peacocks had just taken delivery of the specially ordered T-shirts, which read "Tonight Matthew I'm going to be…," when Mr Kelly was arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing children in the 1970s.
At first bosses at the store, which has branches in Ely, Haverhill, Huntingdon, Newmarket and St Ives, decided to pull the T-shirts.
But they then decided to brave it out after Mr Kelly was given a rapturous reception from audiences watching him in pantomime in Birmingham.
They issued a press release headed "the show must go on" and Richard Kirk, Peacocks' chief executive, said: "This may look like we're being opportunistic but it was just an amazing coincidence. Good timing? We think. Bad taste? We hope not. Let the Great British public decide."
However, after police in Sri Lanka raided Mr Kelly's holiday home there at the weekend, the store had a second change of heart.
A spokeswoman for the chain, said: "Following developments over the weekend, Peacocks have decided to withdraw its stock of the controversial T-shirts.
"As bail has been granted to Matthew Kelly until March 12 Peacocks have decided to await the outcome before putting the T-shirts into their stores.
"Peacocks' reasoning behind this decision is to maintain their reputation of being known as the store with real family values."
Mr Kelly has not been charged and totally denies the allegations.
Peacocks had just taken delivery of the specially ordered T-shirts, which read "Tonight Matthew I'm going to be…," when Mr Kelly was arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing children in the 1970s.
At first bosses at the store, which has branches in Ely, Haverhill, Huntingdon, Newmarket and St Ives, decided to pull the T-shirts.
But they then decided to brave it out after Mr Kelly was given a rapturous reception from audiences watching him in pantomime in Birmingham.
They issued a press release headed "the show must go on" and Richard Kirk, Peacocks' chief executive, said: "This may look like we're being opportunistic but it was just an amazing coincidence. Good timing? We think. Bad taste? We hope not. Let the Great British public decide."
However, after police in Sri Lanka raided Mr Kelly's holiday home there at the weekend, the store had a second change of heart.
A spokeswoman for the chain, said: "Following developments over the weekend, Peacocks have decided to withdraw its stock of the controversial T-shirts.
"As bail has been granted to Matthew Kelly until March 12 Peacocks have decided to await the outcome before putting the T-shirts into their stores.
"Peacocks' reasoning behind this decision is to maintain their reputation of being known as the store with real family values."
Mr Kelly has not been charged and totally denies the allegations.
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