Despite an apology from Gucci, calls for a boycott against the fashion designer are gaining steam.
It’s unclear what Gucci was thinking when it released its near-$900 black ‘wool baclava jumper’ last week. The sweater featured a partial face mask that closely resembled racist blackface costumes.
Adding fuel to the fire, the sweater was introduced during Black History Month, and immediately after numerous Virginia political leaders were found applying or condoning blackface.
The lineup sparked an overwhelming response on Twitter, and a rapid apology by Gucci.
“Gucci deeply apologizes for the offense caused by the wool balaclava jumper. We consider diversity to be a fundamental value to be fully upheld, respected, and at the forefront of every decision we make,” the company stated.
The product in question was quickly pulled from Gucci’s lineup, though several prominent protesters are now calling for a boycott.
That includes rapper T.I., who urged followers to boycott the brand for at least three months. “If you go against the movement… it won’t go unnoticed,” the rapper declared.
In a separate Instagram post, T.I. was boiling over in frustration over Gucci’s design decision.
“We all gotta stop buying, wearing, and supporting this piece of sh*t company and all piece of sh*t companies until they learn to respect our dollars & value our business!!!!” T.I. blasted, while noting that he’s “a 7 figure/yr customer & long time supporter” of Gucci.
“Our culture runs this sh*t!!!” T.I. exclaimed. “We (people of color) spend $1.25 trillion/year (but are the least respected and the least included) and if we stop buying anything they must correct any and all of our concerns.”
Soulja Boy also denounced Gucci over the offensive sweater, declaring on Instagram that it was time to ‘cancel Gucci’ in favor of Fendi.
“Gucci is cancelled,” Soulja Boy stated. “I’m shocked, and I’m appalled, and I feel disrespected. I supported your brand with hundreds of thousands of dollars, and y’all came out with a shirt with blackface on it.”
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Separately, Spike Lee has denounced both Gucci and Prada for releasing highly-offensive items. The director excoriated Prada for releasing a keychain that closely resembles an infamous sambo doll.
“It’s Obvious To Da Peoples That They Don’t Have A Clue When It Comes To Racist, Blackface Hateful Imagery,” Lee wrote on Instagram.
“WAKE UP.”
Separately, T.I. has now expanded his boycott calls to include Prada and Moncler, also accused of releasing a blatantly racist item.
Now, it looks like the broader hip hop community is also taking notice.
At the 61st Grammy Awards, discussion of the mishap continued, suggesting broader action by the hip hop community. That could spell serious trouble for the brand, given the important cultural impact of rappers and their high-end tastes.
This is ridiculous. Stop writing these non-sense divisive articles when there’s obviously no ill intention. Paul, are you are full blown libtard spreading your propaganda? #BLEXIT
Thomas,
What does no ill intention mean??? People get harmed unintentionally all the f**king time. What are you talking about?
Just because they didn’t mean no ill intention doesn’t mean that there isn’t any?The problem is that people who aren’t used to being called out on their bullshit now have to face the music thanks in part to social media and social outcry.
Being at the top of the food chain (aka “white”) means that you never had to care about how other people felt which is why you had shit like the Redskins logo or Mickey’s Rooney’s racially insensitive portrayal of an Asian guy in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”.
You mean to tell me that out of all of the people who are employed at Gucci (and Prada) and NOT ONE person there didn’t think, “hey, this might not be a good idea”?
They either didn’t care or thought that the press the incident would receive would be worth the risk.
So yeah, regardless what these entitled a**holes think, Paul.. keep calling em out… as will the rest of us.
All my Gucci and Prada is now going to Goodwill.