A H&M advert starring a young boy wearing a ‘coolest monkey in the jungle’ slogan has been criticized around the world, what it done intentional or was it a just Innocent advert gone wrong?

H&M ad not the only fashion campaign to court controversy -five other brands that blundered Swedish fast-fashion giant, last week found itself in hot soup over ‘coolest monkey in the jungle ’ ad, but they are not alone alone in dropping boomshell in in an advertising campaign – just ask the following brands they know it better than anyone else Here are so of the top brands that have been accused of the sensitive blunders in adverts

1.Jimmy Choo

2.Dolce & Gabbana

3.Evisu

4.Yves Saint Laurent

5.Victoria’s Secret

Celebrities joined the public outcry, none louder than Canadian singer The Weeknd, who collaborated with H&M on two collections in 2017. H&M (Hennes & Mauritz) is under fire for using a black child to model a sweatshirt sporting the phrase “coolest monkey in the jungle.”

The image first appeared over the weekend on the British version of the Swedish-based retailer’s website. Upon noticing an advertisement with the photo, social media users erupted in outrage at H&M for what they deemed to be a racist and inconsiderate move. American percussionist Questlove was one to chime in, writing on Instagram (where he has over 1 million followers): As of Monday morning, H&M had removed the ad from its website, a spokesperson told CNBC, but it continued to sell the hooded top online (although not in the U.S.).

“We sincerely apologise for offending people with this image of a printed hooded top,” a spokesperson told CNBC. “We believe in diversity and inclusion in all that we do and will be reviewing all our internal policies accordingly to avoid any future issues.” This mishap adds to a growing list of retailers going too far with a slogan or imagery. Abercrombie & Fitch, for example, was criticised for selling a shirt depicting the Wong Brothers’ laundry service, where “two Wongs can make it white,” and “Get Your Buddha on the Floor.” Urban Outfitters once sold a red sweatshirt bearing the Kent State name and what appeared to be a blood splatter. And Zara, owned by Inditex, stirred up controversy when it released a striped blue-and-white children’s pajama top with a yellow star over the left chest, resembling uniforms worn during the Holocaust. The blunder for H&M comes right after the retailer in December reported its biggest drop in quarterly sales in at least a decade. In turn, H&M has trimmed back its expansion plans and is even considering closing some locations.

Content Courtesy Of Nairobi Fashion Hub & SCMP 

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JIMMY CHOO

Just last month Jimmy Choo was accused of sexism for its advert featuring British model Cara Delevingne. The two-minute ad shows Delevingne strutting down a New York street wearing a sparkly red minidress and Choo sock boots, getting catcalls from men along the way.

Social media went into a frenzy, labelling both the brand and Delevingne “tone deaf” in light of the global #MeToo movement addressing sexual harassment.

DOLCE & GABBANA

The Italian brand was accused of suggesting gang rape and had an ad banned from its spring/summer 2007 ready-to-wear collection. The image showed Brazilian model Alessandra Ambrosio pinned down by a man while surrounded by a group of male onlookers. The design duo came under fire closer to home for photographs shot in Beijing, showing models mingling with locals at city landmarks.

The series, taken by the Morelli Brothers, who also shot the Hong Kong and Japan collections in a similar style for the label, was part of the brand’s “Dolce & Gabbana Loves China” online marketing campaign. But not everyone loved it. Internet users bombarded the brand’s Weibo account with complaints that the images showed only underdeveloped parts of the city and impoverished residents.

EVISU

In Hong Kong in 2016, Japanese firm Evisu was accused of objectifying women and promoting “rape culture” in campaign posters for the brand’s autumn-winter collection. The posters showed models Shaun Ross and Camilla Christensen in controversial poses, with one showing Christensen wearing full-body nude tights and a lifeless expression, carried upside down by Ross.

It didn’t help that the ads were shot by controversial US photographer Terry Richardson, who has been accused by some models of sexual harassment.

YVES SAINT LAURENT

US designer Tom Ford, as creative director of the French fashion house, found himself in hot water for a 2000 Opium fragrance ad campaign. Shot by American Steven Meisel, the ad showed British model Sophie Dahl wearing only a pair of gold sandals – and some matching jewellery – posing in a provocative manner.

The image was removed from billboards worldwide and at the time was the most complained about fashion image in history.

VICTORIA’S SECRET

The American lingerie giant has been accused of racism and cultural appropriation on numerous occasions during its annual fashion shows. In 2012 model Karlie Kloss was slammed for wearing a Native American headdress down the catwalk (in the same year the show was heavily criticised for sending two black models down the catwalk in tribal gear). The brand apologised.

But it seems lessons were not learned. In 2016, the show was slammed for its appropriation of Chinese and Mexican traditional attire, and last year in Shanghai the brand sent models down the catwalk in Native American headdresses and accessories; some observers claimed to have spotted necklaces worn by Kenya’s Maasai tribe.

Content Courtesy Of Nairobi Fashion Hub