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Dolce & Gabbana vanishes from Chinese retail sites amid racist ad backlash Dolce & Gabbana vanishes from Chinese retail sites amid racist ad backlash
(about 7 hours later)
Chinese e-commerce sites have removed Dolce & Gabbana products amid a growing backlash against an advertising campaign that was decried as racist by celebrities and on social media.Chinese e-commerce sites have removed Dolce & Gabbana products amid a growing backlash against an advertising campaign that was decried as racist by celebrities and on social media.
The ads featured a Chinese woman struggling to eat spaghetti and pizza with chopsticks, sparking criticism from consumers and forcing the Italian brand to cancel its Shanghai fashion show.The ads featured a Chinese woman struggling to eat spaghetti and pizza with chopsticks, sparking criticism from consumers and forcing the Italian brand to cancel its Shanghai fashion show.
The blunder was compounded when screenshots were circulated online of a private Instagram conversation, in which the designer Stefano Gabbana appeared to make a reference to “China Ignorant Dirty Smelling Mafia” and used the smiling poo emoji to describe the country. The brand said Gabbana’s account had been hacked.The blunder was compounded when screenshots were circulated online of a private Instagram conversation, in which the designer Stefano Gabbana appeared to make a reference to “China Ignorant Dirty Smelling Mafia” and used the smiling poo emoji to describe the country. The brand said Gabbana’s account had been hacked.
Amid calls for a boycott, the furore threatened to grow into a big setback for one of Italy’s best-known fashion brands in a crucial market, where rivals from Louis Vuitton to Gucci are vying to expand.Amid calls for a boycott, the furore threatened to grow into a big setback for one of Italy’s best-known fashion brands in a crucial market, where rivals from Louis Vuitton to Gucci are vying to expand.
In the latest attempt to stem the fury against their brand, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana appeared in a video apology, seated behind a table addressing Chinese customers directly.
“Over the past few days we have seriously reflected and we are deeply sorry for what our actions and words have brought to Chinese people and the country,” Dolce said. “We hope to seek your forgiveness in the mistake made in our understanding of the culture.”
“We offer our deepest apologies to all Chinese people around the world,” Gabbana added. “We will never forget the experience and the lessons learned this time and this kind of incident will never happen again.”
The company previously said accounts were hacked but the apology did not make clear if they had changed their description of events.
The founder of @dolcegabbana said sorry in Chinese to all Chinese people around the world, saying that they will respect Chinese culture more. The apology video was posted on its official Weibo account in China. pic.twitter.com/ADflYhMIhC
Chinese customers account for more than a third of spending on luxury products worldwide, and are increasingly shopping for these in their home market rather than on overseas trips.Chinese customers account for more than a third of spending on luxury products worldwide, and are increasingly shopping for these in their home market rather than on overseas trips.
China’s Kaola, an e-commerce platform belonging to China’s NetEase confirmed it had removed Dolce & Gabbana products while the luxury goods retailer Secoo said it had removed the brand’s listings on Wednesday evening.China’s Kaola, an e-commerce platform belonging to China’s NetEase confirmed it had removed Dolce & Gabbana products while the luxury goods retailer Secoo said it had removed the brand’s listings on Wednesday evening.
On Yoox Net-a-Porter – owned by the Cartier parent Richemont and a leading online high-end retailer – said the label’s wares were no longer available on its platforms within China.On Yoox Net-a-Porter – owned by the Cartier parent Richemont and a leading online high-end retailer – said the label’s wares were no longer available on its platforms within China.
Checks done by Reuters on Thursday morning also showed pages that previously linked to Dolce & Gabbana items on the e-commerce sites hosted by Alibaba Group Holding and JD.com were no longer available and searches for the brand returned no products.Checks done by Reuters on Thursday morning also showed pages that previously linked to Dolce & Gabbana items on the e-commerce sites hosted by Alibaba Group Holding and JD.com were no longer available and searches for the brand returned no products.
Alibaba and JD.com did not respond to requests for comment, and Dolce & Gabbana did not comment on the retailers’ moves.Alibaba and JD.com did not respond to requests for comment, and Dolce & Gabbana did not comment on the retailers’ moves.
Dolce & Gabbana apologised for the ad in a statement, saying: “We have nothing but respect for China and the people of China.”Dolce & Gabbana apologised for the ad in a statement, saying: “We have nothing but respect for China and the people of China.”
Celebrities including the movie star Zhang Ziyi have criticised the brand, while the singer Wang Junkai said he had terminated an agreement to be its ambassador.Celebrities including the movie star Zhang Ziyi have criticised the brand, while the singer Wang Junkai said he had terminated an agreement to be its ambassador.
Reuters contributed to this report
The Communist party’s youth league said on Weibo: “We welcome foreign companies to invest and develop in China ... companies working in the country should respect China and Chinese people.”The Communist party’s youth league said on Weibo: “We welcome foreign companies to invest and develop in China ... companies working in the country should respect China and Chinese people.”
The gaffe is not the first by Dolce & Gabbana in China. It came under fire on social media last year for another series of ads showing the grungy side of Chinese life.The gaffe is not the first by Dolce & Gabbana in China. It came under fire on social media last year for another series of ads showing the grungy side of Chinese life.
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