Pledged that by 2025, 100 percent of employees would feel they have the same opportunity as anyone else and see visible diversity in leadership positions. Increased from one to five the number of people doing final-round quality checks Hired a Nigerian-American as the North America head of inclusion and diversityĬreated a seven-step processing system for all new clothing before they are for saleĬreated a system where at least 12 people in the studio will see a photo after it is uploadedĬreated a system to flag clothing at every stage and make notes about sensitivities Here are some other H&M initiatives that occurred after Wu took the helm, according to Annie Wang, who spent time at H&M headquarters in Sweden: Wu, who had worked with H&M since 2012, said she planned to meet with supporters and critics in the United States and South Africa. Over two months after the ad ran, H&M named Annie Wu, a Taiwanese immigrant raised in Queens, New York, as the global leader for diversity and inclusiveness. We appreciate the support of those who have seen that our product and promotion were not intended to cause offence but, as a global brand, we have a responsibility to be aware of and attuned to all racial and cultural sensitivities – and we have not lived up to this responsibility this time.” “We agree with all the criticism that this has generated – we have got this wrong and we agree that, even if unintentional, passive or casual racism needs to be eradicated wherever it exists.
Part of the updated apology posted on the H&M website reads: The brand stated that it stopped selling the sweatshirt and recycled it. When the media and public criticized the apology, H&M issued a more detailed statement the following day. However, media outlets found the sweatshirt ad running without the model the same morning, on European sites later that day, and in Spanish countries the next day. H&M apologized on January 8, 2018, for offending others, but not for posting the ad, and said it removed the ad from its online stores. i’m deeply offended and will not be working with anymore…” The Weeknd had been appearing in H&M ad campaigns since 2017. The Weeknd, a Canadian artist of Ethiopian descent, tweeted, “woke up this morning shocked and embarrassed by this photo. do you think this imagery is an appropriate representation of a young Black boy?” On social media, Kate Osamor, a Black UK Labour Party member, tweeted, “I was totally shocked, dismayed to say the very least to find this online imagine. “It has had devastating effects on Black people globally.” “The racist ideology of the ape trope is no joke,” Coleman asserted.
The movie was under production at the same time as the rape trial of the Scottsboro Boys, nine Black male teens on trial for allegedly raping two white women. This image was reinforced in the 1930s movie King Kong, according to Wulf D. Whites viewed Black males as subhuman beasts and brutes who lusted after white women. Social media users, activists, and consumers across the globe condemned the ad as racist for using the word monkey, which is considered a racial slur.Įquating Black people to apes dates back to the 16th and 17th century in Europe and America and was used to sanction slavery, segregation, and second-class status, historian Arica L. H&M also notes the following in its inclusion and diversity statement: “In an inclusive and diverse environment, everyone can contribute to optimising decision-making and team performance by reflecting, respecting and relating to our employees, customers and communities.” The clothing brand states that diversity strengthens the company and that it values “diversity in people and ideas, as much as in personal style.” At the time, H&M owned stores in 69 countries on six continents. H&M, a fashion retailer based in Sweden, has 51 markets with online shopping and 5,000 stores in 74 markets across the globe, according to its website. The term monkey is considered a degrading stereotype of people of African descent. H&M faced backlash across the globe in January 2018, when it advertised an image of Liam Mango, a 5-year-old Black male, modeling a green hoodie sweatshirt emblazoned with the words “coolest monkey in the jungle” in white capital letters. Case Study: H&M’s Coolest Monkey in the Jungle