IF EVER there was a warning about being careful with what you put on the internet, Abercrombie & Fitch should act as a cautionary tale.
Comments made by Abercrombie & Fitch's CEO Mike Jeffries seven years ago about how "uncool" kids and "fat women" shouldn’t be wearing the brand's clothes have come back to bite him, inspiring a robust protest and a viral campaign.
In an interview with news website Salon in 2006, Mr Jeffries said he only wanted "good-looking people" in his stores.
"Because good-looking people attract other good-looking people, and we want to market to cool, good-looking people. We don't market to anyone other than that."
Mr Jeffries' comments alienated almost everyone and have earned him the tag of "worst human of retail" on social network sites. And almost seven years later people are still angry.
His comments reignited protests this week in front of a Chicago store after a writer and entrepreneur attempted to give the clothing brand a dramatic re-brand by donating Abercrombie & Fitch clothes to the homeless.
Greg Karber created a viral video of himself going through thrift stores to find old A&F products and donating them to street dwellers.
[video=youtube;O95DBxnXiSo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=O95DBxnXiSo[/video]
Today Mr Jeffries released a statement on the Abercrombie & Fitch Facebook page.
"I want to address some of my comments that have been circulating from a 2006 interview. While I believe this seven-year-old, resurrected quote has been taken out of context, I sincerely regret that my choice of words was interpreted in a manner that has caused offense," he wrote.
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Comments made by Abercrombie & Fitch's CEO Mike Jeffries seven years ago about how "uncool" kids and "fat women" shouldn’t be wearing the brand's clothes have come back to bite him, inspiring a robust protest and a viral campaign.
In an interview with news website Salon in 2006, Mr Jeffries said he only wanted "good-looking people" in his stores.
"Because good-looking people attract other good-looking people, and we want to market to cool, good-looking people. We don't market to anyone other than that."
Mr Jeffries' comments alienated almost everyone and have earned him the tag of "worst human of retail" on social network sites. And almost seven years later people are still angry.
His comments reignited protests this week in front of a Chicago store after a writer and entrepreneur attempted to give the clothing brand a dramatic re-brand by donating Abercrombie & Fitch clothes to the homeless.
Greg Karber created a viral video of himself going through thrift stores to find old A&F products and donating them to street dwellers.
[video=youtube;O95DBxnXiSo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=O95DBxnXiSo[/video]
Today Mr Jeffries released a statement on the Abercrombie & Fitch Facebook page.
"I want to address some of my comments that have been circulating from a 2006 interview. While I believe this seven-year-old, resurrected quote has been taken out of context, I sincerely regret that my choice of words was interpreted in a manner that has caused offense," he wrote.