Dolce and Gabbana's model for the debated advertisement that sparked backlash over the past months has broken her silence over the issue but consumers are not budging.
Zuo Ye, the model who appeared in a D&G ad to promote the "DG Loves China" campaign has spoken up, the South China Morning Post reported.
According to the outlet, Zuo took to Chinese social media site Weibo to apologize for the ad that featured her in a red D&G dress. There was nothing wrong with the dress but consumers were enraged by the part where Zuo tried to eat pizza and other traditional Italian food using chopsticks.
"Personally I would never show any disrespect to my motherland. I love my country and feel proud to be able to represent China on the catwalk. I will draw a lesson from this and show the Chinese in a better light. Again, I apologize to my fellow countrymen," the model wrote.
Zuo also said she felt "very guilty and ashamed" after the ad was disapproved by Chinese citizens who accused Dolce and Gabbana of racial stereotyping.
The ad was unveiled to the public ahead of a fashion show in Shanghai in November. The show was later canceled after consumers called for a boycott on Dolce and Gabbana products.
Furthermore, a string of screenshots showing alleged messages of D&G co-founder Stefano Gabbana ignited a crisis for the Italian brand. The screenshots alleged that Gabbana disrespected China as he called it a "country of s***."
Since then, a number of celebrities and distributors froze their orders. Gabbana and his partner, Domenico Dolce, made a public apology but to no avail as the majority of the Chinese public were disappointed with the ad and Gabbana's alleged comments.
Some online users have also accused Dolce and Gabbana of particularly choosing Zuo because of her squinty eyes and single eyelid. Zuo has since dismissed the accusations but said that her short stint with the famed Italian fashion brand "almost completely ruined" her career.
Meanwhile, it appears that Dolce and Gabbana's PR team learned a bitter lesson from the events after the fashion giant rejected racism claims and apologizing to the Chinese people.
According to The Guardian, Dolce and Gabbana's autumn 2019/winter 2020 menswear collection in Milan was a well-thought event. The collection aimed to highlight elegance in the midst of a millennial generation.
Some experts believe that D&G's revamped designs and campaigns this year are all centered on themes that will not spark public outrage.
