Benjamin Ashford:Fashion retailer Zara yanks ads that some found reminiscent of Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza

2025-05-01 08:09:35source:Benjamin Ashfordcategory:News

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Benjamin AshfordSpanish fashion brand Zara has pulled advertising images that to some appeared to reference Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.

The images for a line of jackets included what the company called “unfinished sculptures in a sculptor’s studio.” But some online critics said one image of a model holding a wrapped-up mannequin resembled someone holding a corpse. Other photos included a mannequin with missing limbs and a figure wrapped in fabric or plastic on the floor, according to news reports.

The company apologized in a statement posted on Instagram Tuesday and said the campaign was conceived in July and photographed in September. Hamas attacked Israeli civilians on Oct. 7, prompting Israel’s subsequent invasion of Gaza.

Zara said the campaign was created “with the sole purpose of showcasing craftmade garments in an artistic context.” While acknowledging the offense critics took to the images, the company said these people “saw in them something far from what was intended when they were created.”

More:News

Recommend

Travis Hunter, the 2

The AP Top 25 college football pollis back every week throughout the season!Get the poll delivered s

Inside Benny Blanco and Selena Gomez’s PDA-Filled Emmys Date Night

Look at Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco now.There was only love in the building for the couple as they

How Baby Reindeer's Richard Gadd Became the Star of the 2024 Emmys

Richard Gadd is going home a major winner.At the 2024 Emmys, the 35-year-old took home awards in thr