Hollister Models Mock Koreans (Asians) In Pictures & On Twitter, They Issue Apology That Won't Work

So maybe you’ve heard by now, but there’s been a controversy recently involving the American clothing brand Hollister and the models they sent to a store opening in Korea.

Basically? They were being racist pricks.

Foreign models visiting Korea to advertise the opening of an American clothing company have taken pictures that make fun of Asians and started a controversy about racial discrimination.

On August 30, famous American clothing brand Hollister brought in four foreign models to attend the opening of their first Korean store at the Yeouido location, where they took photos with customers. The event, which lasted until September 2nd, is part of Hollister’s distinct marketing campaign whenever it opens a new store.

One of the models who attended the opening posted a picture to his twitter (@vin_****) of himself taken in front of Gyeongbokkung Palace with his eyes squinted closed and his lips open. Netizens who saw the photo pointed out how it was making fun of Asians with “squinty eyes”. Another model from the same Hollister event posted similar photos to his Twitter account.

One Twitter user who seems to have worked with the Hollister model before commented on his photo, “please look at how many Asians liked that picture… impressive.” The problem lies in the fact that the original poster of the photo replied with another comment making fun of Asians. The model mocked Asians’ typical English pronunciation, saying, “Hahahaha they ruhhvvvv itttt!”

Yet another model has also been involved in a scandal. The third model was captured exposing his middle finger in an insulting gesture during photos. Furthermore, the same model was photographed in poses that mocked Asians during his visit to Hong Kong which took place before he came to South Korea.

Classy, you guys.

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Predictably, considering they insulted basically all Asians in the world and not just Koreans, Hollister responded immediately because they saw money falling into an abyss.

Hollister fired the models, but not before Korean customers ignited a social media firestorm of rage, threatening to boycott the chain and return goods bought there.

“On behalf of our more than 80,000 associates around the world who cherish our core values and our culture of diversity and inclusion, we sincerely apologize for the offense caused by these unauthorized, ill-considered actions,” Hollister wrote in its apology.

Yeah, nobody should care about the bullshit apology.

Frankly, I wouldn’t have thought it was a big deal* if Abercrombie & Fitch/Hollister didn’t have a history of doing stupid shit.

*As in I would have just shrugged and said “whatever” because it’s just a bunch of stupid fucking models acting as individuals and they were already dealt with accordingly.

In 2002, A&F sold a shirt that featured the slogan “Wong Brothers Laundry Service – Two Wongs Can Make It White” with smiling figures in conical Asian hats, a depiction of early Chinese immigrants. The company discontinued the designs and apologized after a boycott started by an Asian American student group at Stanford University.

So yeah, fuck them.

It’s one thing to have an isolated incident and to make mistakes, it’s another to have a history of insulting just about everybody and making a point of fucking up with the Asian community. At some point, and I’m there right now, one has to believe that these aren’t “mistakes” but that they represent systematic racist flaws in the corporation.

The correct reaction is just not to buy Hollister and Abercrombie & Fitch stuff. As I’ve said time and time again, voting with your wallet is the best way to affect change.

Besides, think of it this way, not buying their products means you won’t look like a bro douchebag anymore too. Win win.

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Also, if you want to torture yourself, this Omona They Didn’t comment clusterfuck is basically the most ridiculously stupid shit you’ll ever read.

Which means you should do it because it’s awesome.

I’m not dedicating a post to that shit, but those are my basic thoughts on it.