Lush’s trans tiger display ‘glorifying’ mastectomies

[IwantToRetire]

The cosmetics brand Lush has been accused of “glorifying the removal of healthy breasts” over its transgender Pride display, which features a tiger with mastectomy scars.

A store in Chelmsford, Essex, has a window display of a cartoon tiger alongside the words “Proud of My Stripes”, with stripes painted in the pink, blue and white colours of the transgender flag.

The tiger also features stripes suggestive of “top surgery”, a procedure most commonly sought by transgender men and non-binary people to remove their breasts.

The image was shared on social media by Chelmsford city council. The post has since been edited to remove it.

Full article at https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06/16/cosmetics-brand-lush-trans-tiger-glorifying-mastectomies/

And at https://archive.is/aPpAT

Sorry if this has already been posted but searching FWR didn't bring up this report.

All the stripes look like self harm 'stripes'.

Which an unnecessary mastectomy obviously is.

I must admit I am not very good at visual images. I dont always get "the message".

So is it just me, or is this meant to be something that would appeal to children.

Or is that me just thinking this because the whole movement is so creepy.

And insulting to women.

It's like they think they are some kind of cool tattoos or something 😡

I know heart kids call their scar their zipper. This is because their chest often has to be cut open several times. But a zipper scar is a scar that was part of life saving surgery not cosmetic angst.

I've also seen that the women are putting foundation on their mastectomy scars to make them darker and more prominent. The only way you can tell these young women are trans us if they have their top off and show their scars.

Blimey, that’s bonkers about trying to make the scars look more prominent. Really suggests the surgery is nothing to do with trying to look like/pass as a man, but an act of self-harm that the person wants to draw attention to. 😕

You see, your error - or, in your case, your first error - lies in the assumption a double-mastectomy in these cases is "unnecessary"

@likelysuspect you’re right they do all look like self harm scars. Lush has form for this and has been pushing this ideology to its customers (many of whom are children) for years. Glorifying self harm to seven year olds is just evil.

I suppose that’s a matter of opinion @JadeLeader. I think most people would feel that a mastectomy is necessary in the case of breast cancer, or prevention of breast cancer; but not an appropriate treatment for mental health problems.

Reminds me of the cross-dressing tiger in Vida the vet on cbbeebies.

My 1st thought on the arm scars is that they look like self-harm scars too. So leaving trans top surgery aside, it's glamourising self-harm and is totally inappropriate.

Lush is utterly bonkers regarding gender ideology

https://archive.ph/6kgIx

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06/20/lush-customers-admonished-for-saying-women-get-pregnant/

Sorry - as i said up thread I often dont get visual representations - why is it a tiger? Is there some cultural link to tigers? Why is it like a fancy dress party?

I'd almost prefer an image of a woman who has high lighted her mastectomy scar/s, even if only to sell some over price product.

So this is just a political message?

Or is it just influence by Japanese style cartoons?

this is the cartoon creator https://www.buckyringsell.com/

Why is it a tiger?

I would guess because tigers are associated with strength or assertiveness maybe? Like the phrase ‘Tiger Mom’. So they’re saying that women with trans identities are brave or strong. And it’s also allowed them to make the pun on ‘stripes’.

The “artist” is clearly bonkers and massively into the NB/furry subculture which is evident in their extremely derivative and mediocre work.

Lush have been appalling on this for years. All we can do is vote with our wallets.

Self-harm scars are referred to as 'tiger stripes'
Lush know what they're doing here

Lush customers ‘confronted by staff’ for saying only women get pregnant
Former employee says workers seemed excited to challenge people they considered transphobic

Full article https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06/20/lush-customers-admonished-for-saying-women-get-pregnant/
Also at https://archive.is/6kgIx

What??!!

By having a marketing campaign targetted at a tiny group as it would seem they are the only ones who understand.

Whilst the vast amount of potential shoppers either dont understand it or if they do object to it!

It's always unnecessary to amputate breasts for a mental problem.

" ... The real lesson is this: when you put something out into the world to affirm one community, it’s worth asking who else might be standing in front of that window. ... "

https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/lush-trans-tiger-double-mastectomy-pride-scars-cancer-controversy-b2998564.html

It's also well documented that mastectomy can cause chronic pain. https://prma-enhance.com/blog/living-with-hope-navigating-post-mastectomy-pain-syndrome It is not something to be promoted by a high street toiletry brand.

I should of guessed it was a trans person who created the design 🤦‍♀️

Didn’t Lush also give out free breast binders without parents’ knowledge a while back?

‘Tiger stripes’ is well known to be slang for self harm cutting scars.

Absolutely toxic for kids and teens - shame as their products are lovely, if they stuck to environmental activism.

Comparing a mastectomy for breast cancer with gender affirming top surgery is comparing apples and oranges. The purpose of cancer surgery is to remove as much breast tissue as possible, sometimes including surrounding structures and lymph nodes. The risk of long term side effects such as nerve damage, lymphedema, chronic pain, limited motion, are high due to the extent of the surgery. Gender affirming surgery on the other hand does not take all of the breast tissue and does not touch the surrounding tissue, meaning the risks are much lower. They're not non-existent - no surgery is zero risk - but it's deeply misleading to present an article about cancer surgery and pretend the same applies to gender affirming surgery. It is a much lower risk procedure and serious side effects are much rarer.

Lush has deteriorated into a disgusting propaganda machine aimed st young people, selling their ludicrously expensive crap products isnt even the point any more, Lush is hell bent on harming young girls. I'm disgusted by them, i hope "go woke go broke" does it's work very soon. All sane adults should boycott their stinking shops

I agree it is disgusting propaganda. Aimed at young girls and is so blatant in its messaging. Agree their products are over priced stinky crap too. It was nauseating hell going into their stores. Thing is many young girls go through a phase of thinking Lush is cool and cute and eco friendly with Lush birthday parties a big thing I remember. Only hope this horrible image goes over the head of the younger girls. Can they not just let kids have a childhood free of this nonsense.