Dapper Dan has given his thoughts on the Gucci blackface sweater that caused an immediate uproar well outside the fashion community. In a Twitter post, the Harlem designer—who launched a fashion line with Gucci in 2017—explained that he's set up a meeting with the CEO of Gucci to air his concerns.
"I am a Black man before I am a brand," he wrote. "Another fashion house has gotten it outrageously wrong. There is no excuse nor apology that can erase this kind of insult."
Dan went on to detail the planned meeting in Harlem.
"The CEO of Gucci has agreed to come from Italy to Harlem this week to meet with me, along with members of the community and other industry leaders. There cannot be inclusivity without accountability. I will hold everyone accountable."
The inappropriate sweater has caused people outside of the fashion industry to take notice, with some people accusing Gucci of being ignorant of history while others called for a boycott.
Spike Lee announced a boycott of Gucci and Prada on Instagram, as both fashion houses have released a product using blackface imagery in recent months.
"I, Spike Lee Of Sound Mind And Body Will No Longer Wear Prada Or Gucci Until They Hire Some Black Designers To Be In Da Room When It Happens," he wrote. "It's Obvious To Da Peoples That They Don't Have A Clue When It Comes To Racist, Blackface Hateful Imagery. WAKE UP. Ya-Dig?
T.I. and Soulja Boy joined in the call for a boycott of the brand, with Soulja willing to give up his Gucci headbands over the offensive piece.
"Our culture RUNS THIS SHIT!!!" T.I. wrote on Instagram. "We (People of color) spend $1.25 TRILLION/year (but are the least respected and the least included)and if we stop buying ANYTHING they MUST correct any and ALL of our concerns. That’s THE ONLY WAY we can get some RESPECT PUT ON OUR NAME!!!! I Don’t Give a Fuck if I gotta wear Target brand shit...."
Soulja Boy said he felt betrayed by the brand's decision to release a racist garment during Black History Month.
"Gucci is canceled," he said. "I'm shocked and I'm appalled and I feel disrespected. I supported y'all brand. I spent hundreds of thousands of dollars and y'all came up with a shirt with blackface on it."
Gucci pulled the sweater from their stores and apologized on Twitter, saying that they hope the controversy will be a "powerful learning moment for the Gucci team."
