Earlier this week, Gucci caught backlash from the masses after they attempted to promote a balaclava sweater that mimics blackface. The design promotes a mask for the lower part of the face with a cutout around the lips that’s outlined with red stitching.
Since the item was removed, consumers of the luxury company decided to pull their dollars from supporting Gucci, one person including T.I. The “Rubber Band Man” rapper took to Instagram on Friday (Feb. 8) to state he’s boycotting Gucci and advised others to do the same.
“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!!!!” he wrote, noting that he’s “a 7 figure/yr customer & long time supporter” of Gucci. “Our culture runs this sh*t!!! 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.”
Shortly after the image received traction, the fashion house published an apology, adding that the item was removed from its stores. “We consider diversity to be a fundamental value to be fully upheld, respected, and at the forefront of every decision we make,” the brand stated. The apology continues to present a mission to implement a diverse workforce but no solution as to how that’ll come about.
Recently, Oscar-nominated director Spike Lee also joined a boycott of Gucci and Prada until the companies employ black designers. “It’s obvious to da people that they don’t have a clue when it comes to racist, blackface hateful imagery.”
In mid-December 2018, Prada rescinded the sale of trinkets and jewelry that resembled blackface. Two years before that, Dolce & Gabbana pulled the sale of shoes that it titled “Slave Sandal.” Just recently, Nike and Adidas came under fire for sneakers that consumers deemed to be racially offensive.
