The T-shirts, bearing the slogan "Occupy All Streets", were selling for $22 (about R176) each on the label's site, before being pulled amid controversy because it was revealed none of the money made from their sales would be donated to 'Occupy Wall Street'.

E! online quotes a Rocawear representative as saying: "'Occupy All Streets' is our way of reminding people that there is change to be made everywhere, not just on Wall Street. At this time we have not made an official commitment to monetarily support the movement."

'Occupy Wall Street' spokesman Patrick Bruner is quoted by NME as saying in response: "Naturally there will be some bloodsuckers who come out of the woodwork."

Another member of 'Occupy Wall Street', known only as Grim, was even harsher, saying to TMZ: "Jay-Z, as talented as he is, has the political sensibility of a hood rat and is a scrotum. To attempt to profit off of the first important social moment of 50 years with an overpriced piece of cotton is an insult to the fight for economic civil rights known as 'Occupy Wall Street'."

Jay-Z, who has been photographed wearing the contentious T-shirt, has denied that Rocawear pulled the T-shirts, despite their disappearance from the label's website.