A Keepsake Christmas ornament from the company looks like your favorite tacky-but-festive holiday sweater, only this one is decorated with the words “Don we now our FUN apparel!”
That, of course, is not quite the line from the carol “Deck the Halls,” which dates to the 16th century.
Hallmark defended the change on the 2013 Holiday Sweater ornament, saying “gay” is “open to misinterpretation.” But after a day of hullabaloo, the company apologized.
“We’ve been surprised at the wide range of reactions expressed about the change of lyrics on this ornament, and we’re sorry to have caused so much concern,” Hallmark said in a statement Thursday.
“We never intend to offend or make political statements with our products, and in hindsight, we realize we shouldn’t have changed the lyrics on the ornament.”
However, Hallmark has no plans to pull the ornament, which sells for $12.95, a spokeswoman said.
