INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Image copyrightDolce and Gabbana/InstagramImage caption
Dolce and Gabbana's #DGLovesChina campaign has been criticised
Dolce Gabbana has cancelled its Shanghai fashion show amid accusations of racism over its latest ad campaign.The Italian
fashion house also had to apologise for posts on its Instagram account written in response to #DGLovesChina.The brand said its and
co-founder Stefano Gabbana's accounts were hacked and used to criticise Chinese people."We have nothing but respect for China and the people
of China," the apology message read.Gabbana also apologised, posting a screenshot on Instagram of offensive messages he claims were sent by
a hacker abusing his account.But a string of Chinese celebrities have now said they'll boycott the fashion chain, while many of the models
booked to take part in the show said they had pulled out
Image Copyright dolcegabbanadolcegabbanaDG posted three videos this week of a Chinese model eating Italian foods like pizza and pasta with
chopsticks.These videos are available to view on Instagram but were taken down from Chinese social media network Weibo less than 24 hours
after they were posted.According to digital publication Jing Daily, which covers luxury consumer trends in China, the videos made "big
mistakes in tone and taste".It said the campaign had been criticised for "trivialising China's centuries-old culture and depicting Chinese
women in a stereotypical and even racist way" by users on social media
The use of split-up chopsticks was also criticised for being improper and disrespectful."Boycott Dolce" has also been discussed on Weibo
more than 18,000 times, according to Jing Daily.DG is yet to apologise for the campaign, which was to have been accompanied by a catwalk
show in Shanghai on Wednesday.Yet they have expressed regret that the event has now been cancelled, describing it as "something that we
created especially with love and passion for China.""Our dream was to bring to Shanghai a tribute event dedicated to China which tells our
history and vision," they wrote in a statement."What happened today was very unfortunate not only for us, but also for all the people who
worked day and night to bring this event to life."Image Copyright dolcegabbanadolcegabbanaThe website Business of Fashion said the decision
to cancel the show had been taken by Chinese authorities.A number of high-profile Chinese celebrities had also announced they would not
attend."I love my mother country," actress Li Bingbing told her 42 million fans
"Our mother country is more important than anything," said the management of Wang Junkai, a singer in boy band TFBoys, who also withdrew
Actor Talu Wang wrote on Weibo: "Respect is more important than anything."This isn't the first time the high-end brand has been accused of
racism towards China.Last April they posted a campaign on Weibo that showed impoverished people in run-down areas of Beijing pictured with
DG models ahead of a catwalk show in the city.The pictures were criticised for stereotyping Chinese history by showing old parts of the
city, rather than more modern depictions of Beijing.DG also caused controversy in 2016 when it called an item of footwear in its
spring/summer collection a "slave sandal".Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @TheIndianSubcontinentNewsEnts, or on Instagram at
TheIndianSubcontinentnewsents
If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@TheIndianSubcontinent.co.uk.
