Rapper G-Eazy and R&B singer The Weeknd have severed their ties with H&M, after the clothing brand was accused of racism for having a black child wear a hoodie that says, “Coolest monkey in the jungle,” in one of its ads.
In a recent post on Twitter, The Weeknd said he was “embarrassed” and “shocked” by the ad. “I’m deeply offended and will not be working with H&M anymore,” the “Starboy” singer said.
Meanwhile, G-Eazy, who’s about to launch his new clothing line in collaboration with H&M, wrote on Instagram that his excitement about the project “quickly evaporated” after seeing the “disturbing image.”
“Whether it’s an oblivious oversight or not, it’s truly sad and disturbing that, in 2018, something so racially and culturally insensitive could pass by the eyes of so many (stylist, photographer, creative and marketing teams), and be deemed acceptable,” said the rapper, who’s behind the hit “Me, Myself and I.”
“I can’t allow my name and brand to be associated with a company that would let this happen,” he stressed. —ALLAN POLICARPIO