Gaza Boycott
LONDON: Fashion brand Zara has withdrawn a controversial ad campaign featuring statues wrapped in white following calls for a boycott and protests by pro-Palestinian activists. Zara expressed regret for the “misunderstanding” and apologized after the campaign triggered tens of thousands of complaints on its Instagram account, with critics suggesting the images resembled photos of corpses in white shrouds in Gaza. The hashtag “#BoycottZara” trended on messaging platform X.
The campaign, which also featured mannequins with missing limbs, was conceived in July and photographed in September, before the Gaza conflict erupted in October. Zara stated that the intention was to showcase unfinished sculptures in a sculptor’s studio. However, the images were interpreted differently by some customers, leading to offense and protests.
Zara’s announcement illustrates the challenges faced by global brands navigating sensitivities around conflicts such as the Gaza war. Zara is the first major Western brand to take a drastic step in response to criticism for what some viewed as insensitive advertising.
The Advertising Standards Authority in Britain received 110 complaints, stating that the imagery referenced the war in Gaza and was offensive. As Zara removed the ad, the ASA stated it wouldn’t take further action. Protesters gathered outside a Zara store in Tunisia’s capital, Tunis, chanting and waving a Palestinian flag. The store’s display window was splattered in red paint.
Zara removed six posts showcasing the “Atelier” campaign from its Instagram page, and parent company Inditex confirmed the removal of photos from all platforms. The high-end “Atelier” collection, featuring six jackets, remained for sale on Zara’s sites.
Inditex is set to report results for the first nine months of its fiscal year, with analysts anticipating a slight sales growth slowdown in the third quarter due to an unusually warm October in Europe. Overall, Zara Withdraws Gaza Boycott-Triggering Campaign, Expresses Regret Over Controversial Ad Sparking Protests and Boycott Calls.
