Shop accused of racism over tobacco plantation image behind counter takes picture down

A Surrey shop accused of racism over an “incredibly triggering” image of a tobacco plantation has now removed it and apologised “unreservedly”.

Farrants in Cobham came under fire after Misan Harriman, the chairman of London’s Southbank Centre and a photographer who has taken portraits of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, said he was “speechless” when he saw the image behind the counter.

The shop has since removed the image and apologised on Instagram for “any and all distress” the image caused.

“We will keep this brief,” the post read.

“The image that has caused offence has been removed. We apologise unreservedly for any and all distress that it caused.”

The blown-up sepia image covered a wall behind the cash desk and included the words “we sell tobacco”, and appeared to show black people working on a tobacco plantation overseen by white men.

Posts about the image on social media by Harriman, who is also an ambassador of Save the Children UK, had been shared thousands of times.

Harriman posted screenshots of the shop’s apology on X, formerly known as Twitter, alongside a tweet from Surrey Police confirming that the image has been taken down.

Surrey Police tweeted: “We are aware of the commentary surrounding an image at Farrants newsagent in Cobham.

“While no formal reports have been made to police, we have spoken with the shop’s manager and we’ve been informed they have removed the image and issued an apology on Instagram.”

Harriman initially posted a video on X saying: “I saw the most triggering thing, I’ve just come in to try and get toys for my girls, and I just saw the most incredibly triggering imagery; luckily my children are not with me.

“This is supposed to be a family store that has imagery of, if not enslaved, definitely indentured workers with their white masters or overseers.

“This shop in the middle of a Surrey high street thinks it’s normal to have that type of imagery next to where I could go and buy toys for my children.”

Former Chelsea football player Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink had complained in 2020 about the same image in Farrants, which was founded in 1989 and has a specialist tobacco room selling cigars and accessories.

Hasselbaink said on Instagram that he had complained to Farrants’ owner David Worsfold three years ago and was told the store would “replace” the image.

On Wednesday, Hasselbaink wrote: “Stories come and go. This needs some attention (Farrants), I think it’s time you followed through on your word from 2020 and replaced this image.”