Moschino designer Jeremy Scott faced backlash on Monday after he lightheartedly referred to Gigi Hadid as an “illegal alien” while teasing his new fashion line on social media with a picture of the model painted blue.
When he first posted the photo to Instagram and Twitter, the caption read: “The only thing illegal about this alien is how good she looks!”
The post, which is an ad for his new fashion campaign, also featured a photo of Hadid with blue skin and an orange prison jumpsuit-themed coat
Fans almost immediately began to argue on both Instagram and Twitter about the timing of the post, with many criticizing the caption as “tone deaf” amid an immigration crisis regarding the separation of families on the border as a result of the Trump administration’s zero tolerance immigration policy.
Following the backlash, Scott changed the caption, claiming that his campaign was meant to bring attention to the Trump administration’s harsh rhetoric surrounding “illegal aliens”
“The entire concept of my ad campaign was to bring attention to the US administration’s harsh stand towards ‘illegal aliens.’ I painted the models in my show and this campaign as a way to bring attention to this and discuss what exactly is an ‘alien,'” Scott wrote on the post.
“Are they orange blue yellow green? No they are our friends, neighbors, co workers, relatives and people we love, he added.
Although the caption was changed on Instagram, as of Tuesday afternoon, it was still on his personal Twitter.
THE ONLY THING ILLEGAL ABOUT THIS ALIEN IS HOW GOOD SHE LOOKS ! @gigihadid STARS IN MY NEW @moschino CAMPAIGN SHOT BY STEVEN MEISEL & STYLED BY carlynecerfdedudzeele HAIR & MAKE UP BY… https://t.co/ZzpZORpRWt
— JEREMY SCOTT (@ITSJEREMYSCOTT) June 25, 2018
This isn’t the first time Scott has made headlines for his controversial designs. In 2012 the designer was set to release a pair of Adidas sneakers with ankle shackles attached. The shoe was pulled after public opponents said the shoe was an insensitive nod to slavery.
