Gucci issues apology following backlash over sweater that appears to resemble blackface

[ecstatic]

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

I can't...

[Caliman73]

1. This tells me one of a few things...

Gucci has no people of color on their staff who are high enough in the organization to make decisions. OR No one at Gucci knows anything about American History as it relates to Black Americans. OR There is an inordinate amount of privilege in the decision making structure.

[Drahthaardogs]

6. Well, it's NOT an American company

So maybe they are clueless to this.

[tirebiter]

2. That's not blackface

Looks more like a moustache and beard or a lucha libre mask.

[EffieBlack]

3. Umm

I’m just too tired say any more than that’s really effed up

[democratisphere]

4. This "blackface" issue is off the rails and completely out of control.

Get real for sanity's sake.
Jeebus.

[TheBlackAdder]

11. It's how some early cartoons and comics would draw African & African-American characters.

.

Stereotypically defined with excessively dark skin and accentuated red lips.

.

[democratisphere]

15. Blackface as a component of a costume has nothing to do with racism or being a racist.

Emulating MJ or rappers actually honors their fame and musical accomplishments.

[TheBlackAdder]

16. OK, the guy with a $900 turtleneck who is walking down the street is honoring them.

.

It's funny that I don't see any blackface at real cosplay events.


So, when Taco released Puttin' on the Ritz, he was honoring Al Jolson's era who was honoring African-Americans.

Yet, he felt compelled to reissue it, because his original version became censored from broadcast, 25 years ago.

Uncensored Original version:

Reissued Official version:

.

[democratisphere]

17. The offending turtleneck takes the blackface issue to a whole new

level of absurdity. I do not consider the turtleneck to be racist and I am sure the manufacturer didn't either.

[TheBlackAdder]

18. Sort of like these, taking it to a level of absurdity.

.


For them not to even consider it racist, shows how ingrained racism is within them.










.

[Act_of_Reparation]

20. I know it goes against our better judgement, but in cases like this intent is irrelevant.

This isn't a murder trial. It doesn't matter what Gucci intended. What matters is the sweater evokes racist imagery. People have a right to be updet about that.

[912gdm]

5. Gucci and the other fashion houses should apoligise for the last 20 years of WTF.

I get art and fashion, but 'fashion' gets more absurd year after year.

ETA:

[Eugene]

7. That $890 price tag is almost as offensive.

Gucci withdraws $890 jumper after blackface backlash

https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2019/feb/07/gucci-withdraws-jumper-blackface-balaclava

[leftynyc]

8. A balaclava is like a ski mask

(although very often used to hide one's identity while committing a crime). Are we now not allowed to wear black ski masks that protect our faces from cold and snow? Children wear them all the time.

[Yosemito]

9. Did they mean it to resemble blackface?

?

[Vinca]

10. I'm sorry. This is stupid. Do we now ban all ski masks that happen to be black?

The only crime that sweater commits is being ugly and probably stupidly expensive.

[melm00se]

12. at this rate

the fear of blackface will drive the discontinuing of balaclavas

[hack89]

13. Google golliwog to understand why many are offended.

black face with red lips is an old racist trope in England.

[TheBlackAdder]

19. Yep. There was even an episode of Benny Hill, where he pulled one out. I think Prince Harry had one.

[Hortensis]

14. Clueless, or what? European nations of course have big racism

problems, growing substantially worse during these anxious, mean, reactionary period, and also histories of black-face whatevers.

Wonder if this came in other colors. Just taking the black choice off the market would work fine. Uh, no to browns also...