Walmart boys' T-shirt too close to 'Fifty Shades'?

CHICAGO (WLS) -- There's nothing funny about a boy's T-shirt for sale at Walmart that's listed under "Boys Humor Graphic Tee," if you ask Sarah Cervantes.

The black T-shirt has a gray tie on it that Cervantes says resembles the cover of the book "Fifty Shades of Grey." She came across it at an Illinois Walmart, but it's also available on Walmart.com. She thinks it's sending the wrong the message.

"It was completely inappropriate to glorify sexual violence, especially on our children. Especially our boys. We do so much to protect our girls . . . and then we take these shirts on our boys and tell them they're funny," she said.

The shirt is for sale in the boys' section at Walmart and online.

Cervantes tweeted to Walmart, but didn't get a response. A Walmart spokesperson told ABC7 Chicago Eyewitness News neither the T-shirt nor any other merchandise is connected to "Fifty Shades of Grey." That would require a licensing agreement, Walmart said.

A Walmart spokesperson said in a written statement: "We have carried shirts with ties on them for several years as these shirts are a popular look for boys. This particular shirt has been on shelves for nearly a year. This shirt has absolutely no association with '50 Shades of Grey,' and we are appalled by the claim."

Walmart does, however, sell the New York Times Best Seller book, which was made into a movie. It tells the story of an innocent college girl who is introduced to a world of erotica and sexual domination by a wealthy and powerful man.

"If an adult wants to read the book, that's their prerogative," Cervantes said.