Gap sparked a huge Twitter debate around body image last week when the brand tweeted a photo of a slim model wearing one of its latest plaid dresses.
Dress up your days in pastel plaid. #since1969http://t.co/MahfoxlM5ipic.twitter.com/xWWSxyImnA
- Gap (@Gap) August 4, 2014
The Twitter-sphere went into a frenzy and skinny-shamed the model who has been labelled as "anorexic" and "skeletor".
One user said the following:
However, while the model in question is undeniably slim, these tweets only raise further questions. For a start, should anyone have the right to make assumptions and allegations about eating disorders?
Why does there need to be a running commentary on one woman's body? And what gives us the right to judge how she looks?
Gap couldn't ignore the backlash and replied with the following statement a few days after the Twitter storm:
"Our intentions have always been to celebrate diversity in our marketing and champion people for who they are," Edie Kissko, a Gap Inc. spokeswoman, told People magazine.
"Upon reflection, we understand the sensitivity surround this photograph. Customer feedback is important to us and we think this is a valuable conversation to learn from."
While the original tweet remains in the brand's Twitter feed, it has since promoted the dress without using a picture of the model.
And if you click through to buy, there's a new redheaded woman showcasing the dress.
Was this a wise move by Gap or is it actually offensive to the original model? If the brand really is celebrating "diversity," then surely it shouldn't matter what size their models are, no matter how thin they look.
What do you think? Let us know your thoughts on Twitter @MyDailyUK
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