Gucci apologises for selling a "blackface" jumper
7 February 2019, 12:32
The jumper is no longer on sale.
Gucci have issued an apology after causing widespread offence by selling a jumper which resembled blackface. The black "balaclava jumper" covered the lower half of the face and featured a red cut-out around the mouth.
Blackface has an offensive history and has been perpetuating racist stereotypes of Black people since the 1800s. Bright red lips and dark skin are common characteristics of historical blackface imagery.
Gucci's design received a lot of backlash, especially because it's Black History Month in the US. Clearly they hadn't learnt from Prada, who faced a similar issue last year when they released figurines that resemble racist depictions of black people.
GUCCI IS CANCELLED ALL 2019 🙅🏾♂️ pic.twitter.com/YtGKdKZwqX
— 4amtravo (@TravieJx21) February 7, 2019
Now I understand why Jeffree Star stans Gucci. https://t.co/xk1k4Yge1i
— Prizzilla (@prizzillla) February 6, 2019
Oh no Gucci ... you’re cancelled af. Chanel would never https://t.co/APQy8hQjoB
— TAI BOWEN ♡ (@TAi_WHITE) February 6, 2019
Today Gucci released their Balaclava Knit Top. Sigh. Really @Gucci? Really? pic.twitter.com/ETWKFhHVEB
— Keisha Ka'oir (@MikeishaDache) February 6, 2019
It’s 2019, when are we going to stop using stereotypes etc as marketing tactics?
— 和 明呀 (@miamohill) February 6, 2019
As a Marketer/advertisier, there is a team responsible for checking stuff like this. But the problem is: if no one sees a problem with it on the team. @gucci you’re dead wrong. https://t.co/6V9w8X6KPB
How does this keep happening with supposedly 'luxury' brands? No-one at Gucci clocked the similarity between the racist imagery of their $890 blackface jumper and Prada's keychain - the latter of which was pulled from stores less than two months ago? Or do they just not care? pic.twitter.com/pNxTbuJeXV
— Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff (@CharlieBCuff) February 7, 2019
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
Y’all still love Gucci? pic.twitter.com/grBDWC4Enf
— 💋💋💋 (@thezealheart) February 7, 2019
Gucci apologised for any offence caused and confirmed the item would be removed from sale. They also said they would be working to make the company more diverse.
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
It read: "Gucci deeply apologizes for the offense caused by the wool balaclava jumper. We can confirm that the item has been immediately removed from our online store and all physical stores.
"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."