French insults in American products

Seattle-based bag company Tom Bihn does a lot of business with Canada, and thus offers bilingual French-English labels for its products. But French speakers get more than just washing instructions - now they can get presidential insults as well. The labels sewn into hundreds of bags and backpacks include the following message:


Nous sommes desolés que notre president soit un idiot. Nous n'avons pas voté pour lui.

(We're sorry our president is an idiot. We didn't vote for him.)



Company sales have more than doubled since the insult was discovered, although the eponymous president of Tom Bihn claims that it was an inside joke aimed at him, rather than the president of the United States.


The company has created a T-shirt with the insulting label, the profits of which will be donated to the Seattle Vet Center.


Full story: News and events at Tom Bihn


(I know this is already a week old, but I didn't see a post here at Blogcritics.)


Laura K. Lawless

French Language Guide

About the French Language

Free resources for students, teachers, and lovers of French.

Article tags

Spread the word
Bookmark and Share
Profile image for lklawless

Article Author: lklawless

Laura K. Lawless
LKL's blog
Learn French at About
e Learn Spanish Language
e Learn English Language
The Veggie Table

Visit lklawless's author pagelklawless's Blog

Read comments on this article, and add some feedback of your own
  • No image found

Article comments

  • 1 - Jim Carruthers

    Apr 25, 2004 at 1:01 pm

    This reminds me of the gag in "Penn and Teller Get Killed" where Penn is taught how to say "Have a Nice Day" in Spanish: "chinga te putra madre".

  • 2 - Stately Wayne Manor

    Apr 25, 2004 at 3:43 pm

    Minor correction on your Espanol,senor.
    It's "puta" not "putra". Carry On.

  • 3 - Jim Carruthers

    Apr 25, 2004 at 4:00 pm

    Oh, that esplains the strange looks I got greeting people in Mexico City.

  • 4 - Jim

    Apr 25, 2004 at 5:09 pm

    How very droll. How about a label like "I eat at McDonald's specifically to piss you off"?

  • 5 - Douglas Mays

    Apr 26, 2004 at 3:35 pm

    Yeah, caught this report on the local news. Man, I've got to run downtown and buy one right away before the supply runs out.

    The store owners were giving it a 'hhhmmmm...' about taking them off the shelf. But by now, I would think that they should have more made up. I'm sure sales were quite brisk once the word got out. Especially in this town.

    peaceloveguidance

Add your comment, speak your mind

Personal attacks are NOT allowed.
Please read our comment policy.
Please preview your comment.

blogcritics lists for May 21, 2013

fresh articles Most recent articles site-wide

fresh comments Most recent comments site-wide

most comments Most comments in 24hrs

top writers Most prolific Blogcritics for April

top commenters Most prolific Commenters in 24 hrs