SYDNEY: An Australian supermarket which withdrew Roald Dahl's "Revolting Rhymes" because of the word "slut" faced a revolt Friday with some shoppers calling for it to be put back on the shelves.
German chain Aldi said it pulled Dahl's 1982 reinvention of classic fairytales after "comments by a limited number of concerned customers regarding the language used in this particular book".
"Aldi Australia would like to inform all of our customers that we take the concerns of the community seriously," it said in a statement.
The book features the word "slut" in Dahl's comic verse rewriting of Cinderella, one of six stories in "Revolting Rhymes" subjected to the same kind of treatment from the much loved writer.
In it, Cinderella is appalled at seeing the prince and he, in turn, declares: "Who's this dirty slut? Off with her nut! Off with her nut!"
The supermarket's decision sparked criticism on social media, with shoppers on Aldi Australia's Facebook page calling for the book to go back on sale.
"Dearest Aldi, I can't believe you were bullied by a few for a book written in 1982 with a 'bad' word," one shopper wrote.
Another said: "Can I buy Dahl's Revolting Rhymes? Oh that's right Aldi censors it. Boycott Aldi's until Dahl is reinstated."
A handful of shoppers supported the decision on Aldi's Facebook page, with one commenting that the store was "actually trying to do the right thing".
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