Designer’s “Illegal Alien” Ad Campaign With Model Gigi Hadid Sparks Controversy

“I’m not anti-alien; I don’t want to build the wall.”

Gigi Hadid in Jeremy Scott's new ad campaign for Moschino (@itsjeremyscott/Instagram)
Gigi Hadid in Jeremy Scott's new ad campaign for Moschino (@itsjeremyscott/Instagram)

Designer Jeremy Scott received backlash this week after sharing a photo of a new ad campaign for Moschino featuring Gigi Hadid, in which she models blue skin and blonde hair, Cosmopolitan is reporting.

“THE ONLY THING ILLEGAL ABOUT THIS ALIEN IS HOW GOOD SHE LOOKS!” Scott’s original caption declared, which some of his followers called “tone deaf,” “ignorant” and said “disappointed” them, suggesting Scott was making light of the current migrant situation at the border.

“The entire concept of my ad campaign was to bring attention to the US administration’s harsh stance towards “illegal aliens.” I painted the models in my show and this campaign was a way to bring attention to this and discuss what exactly is an “alien,” Scott wrote in reply to one commenter. “Are they orange blue yellow green? No they are our friends, neighbors, co workers, relatives, and people we love.”

There were also those who came to his defense in the post, with models — including the legendary Linda Evangelista — voicing their support for Scott’s vision. Cosmopolitan notes that in February, Scott sent models down the runway with blue, green, orange and yellow skin during Moschino’s Fall 2018 show. He told Vogue at the time: “I’m not anti-alien; I don’t want to build the wall.”

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