IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.

J.C. Penney removes billboard of tea kettle said to resemble Hitler

The kerfuffle over a tea kettle bearing a potential resemblance to Adolf Hitler has reached a boiling point, as J.C. Penney has removed a billboard advertising the product and taken it off its website. A California billboard depicting the Michael Graves-designed kettle for sale at the store was taken down Wednesday. The sign, first noticed by Reddit users near the 405 freeway in Culver City, had m
A billboard in California depicting a tea kettle said to potentially resemble a saluting Adolf Hitler has been pulled by J.C. Penney.
A billboard in California depicting a tea kettle said to potentially resemble a saluting Adolf Hitler has been pulled by J.C. Penney.Today

The kerfuffle over a tea kettle bearing a potential resemblance to Adolf Hitler has reached a boiling point, as J.C. Penney has removed a billboard advertising the product and taken it off its website.

A California billboard depicting the Michael Graves-designed kettle for sale at the store was taken down Wednesday. The sign, first noticed by Reddit users near the 405 freeway in Culver City, had many online questioning whether they were being saluted by the Nazi dictator or waiting for tea to heat up when looking at the tea kettle.

Ad blunders: Hitler kettles are the least of them

The $40 product was also pulled off the company's website as of Thursday. The company did not respond to a request for comment from TODAY.com.

On Tuesday the company made it clear that any resemblance is completely "unintentional," repeatedly tweeting the clarification at those curious about a Hitler connection.

"If we had designed it to look like something, we would have gone with a snowman or something fun," the store tweeted at numerous followers.

Before it was pulled off the company's website, the teakettle, noted for its "cool-touch handle, space-saving design and a delightful whistle," had sold out online, the company tweeted in response to a tweet by comedian Patton Oswalt on Tuesday.

The buzzed-about tea kettles have already shown up on eBay, where sellers have listed them for as much as $160.