'So @gucci puts out a sweater that looks like blackface...... On Black History Month....,' one critic writes.
- Feb 8, 2019
AceShowbiz - Gucci enrages people with its latest sweater collection. Many complained that the wool sweater was offensive as it resembled blackface makeup and asked the Italian fashion house to pull them its both online and physical stores.
The black turtleneck, that costs $900, allowed you to pull it up over the bottom half of the face. It featured a cut out and oversized red lips around the mouth. "Today Gucci released their Balaclava Knit Top. Sigh. Really @Gucci? Really?" Another critic tweeted, "At this point Gucci playing in our face but y'all still gone shop happy black history month."
Today Gucci released their Balaclava Knit Top. Sigh. Really @Gucci? Really? pic.twitter.com/ETWKFhHVEB
— Mikeisha Daché (@MikeishaDache) February 6, 2019
At this point Gucci playing in our face but y’all still gone shop happy black history month 🤦🏽♂️‼️ pic.twitter.com/vPTLvsA0TF
— Casanova (@weeezy___) February 7, 2019
Another comment read, "So @gucci puts out a sweater that looks like blackface...... On Black History Month.... And then issues an apology because they didn't know that blackface images are racist." One other added, "We have ONE month to celebrate the history of African Americans. Feb. 2019: Multiple accounts of politicians wearing blackface. And now news Gucci was selling a $890 blackface sweater. We are a nation desperately in need of diversity training. "
So @gucci puts out a sweater that looks like blackface......
— Tariq Nasheed 🇺🇸 (@tariqnasheed) February 7, 2019
On Black History Month....
And then issues an apology because they didn't know that blackface images are racist.
🤦🏿♂️ pic.twitter.com/G3HjPTIuuQ
We have ONE month to celebrate the history of African Americans. Feb. 2019: Multiple accounts of politicians wearing blackface. And now news Gucci was selling a $890 blackface sweater. We are a nation desperately in need of diversity training. #gucci#BlackHistoryMonthpic.twitter.com/tHXEAP2pjN
— Michelle Singletary (@SingletaryM) February 7, 2019
The house quickly responded to the backlash. Removing the turtleneck from its website, Gucci took to Twitter to issue a public apology, saying that it "deeply apologizes for the offense caused by the wool balaclava jumper." The luxury brand added, "We can confirm that the item has been immediately removed from our online store and all physical stores."
Gucci deeply apologizes for the offense caused by the wool balaclava jumper.
— gucci (@gucci) February 7, 2019
We consider diversity to be a fundamental value to be fully upheld, respected, and at the forefront of every decision we make.
Full statement below. pic.twitter.com/P2iXL9uOhs
"We consider diversity to be a fundamental value to be fully upheld, respected, and at the forefront of every decision we make. We are fully committed to increasing diversity throughout our organization and turning this incident into a powerful learning moment for the Gucci team and beyond," the statement concluded.
