‘Shaking with anger’: Prada pulls ‘racist’ products amid blackface backlash

Customers have been left “shaking with anger” after an astonishing decision by luxury brand Prada to stock these controversial products.

Luxury brand Prada has been forced to pull a line of products from stores after it was accused of racism.

The Italian fashion house had stocked toy-style accessories dubbed “Pradamalia”, which featured black monkeys with red lips, and had been compared to blackface.

The brand initially issued an apology, saying the design was a “fantasy” and had not intended to be racist.

It then said it would “withdraw the characters in question from display and circulation”, adding that Prada “abhors racist imagery”.

We are committed to creating products that celebrate the diverse fashion and beauty of cultures around the world. We’ve removed all Pradamalia products that were offensive from the market and are taking immediate steps to learn from this.

Full press release attached. pic.twitter.com/rKhnKjasDz

— PRADA (@Prada) December 16, 2018

“The Pradamalia are fantasy charms composed of elements of the Prada oeuvre,” a statement from Prada said.

Prada has pulled a line of figurines that resembled blackface from its stores. Picture: Chinyere Ezie/Facebook

“They are imaginary creatures not intended to have any reference to the real world and certainly not blackface.”

“Prada Group never had the intention of offending anyone and we abhor all forms of racism and racist imagery.”

A statement posted on Prada’s Twitter continued: “We are committed to creating products that celebrate the diverse fashion and beauty of cultures around the world.”

“We’ve removed all Pradamalia products that were offensive from the market and are taking immediate steps to learn from this.”

Prada’s Soho store had stocked the racially insensitive accessories. Picture: BRAZIL PHOTO PRESS

The Pradamalia line had drawn criticism from shoppers and civil rights advocates, including New York-based civil rights lawyer Chinyere Ezie who said she was “shaking with anger”.

“History cannot continue to repeat itself. Black America deserves better. And we demand better,” Ezie said, according to The Guardian.

“This all could have been prevented had there been more diverse voices and more diverse people at the table.”

Prada has been embroiled in a racism controversy over its ‘Pradamalia’ product line. Picture: AFP

Prada is not the first fashion brand to be accused of racism. Dolce & Gabbana was recently slammed for racially offensive posts on its social media accounts.

It all started on November 17, when a series of short video advertisements for a D & G event planned to be staged in China were posted online.

The first video featured a Chinese model in a sequined red dress trying — and failing — to eat pizza with chopsticks.

The backlash came in swift on Chinese social media, with thousands of Weibo users complaining that the videos were racist and belittled Chinese culture.