Anthropologie, a women’s clothing brand, has come under fire for posting an ad that featured a man dancing in women’s dresses. The ad caused outrage among many of the brand’s loyal customers, who felt that it was an insult to women everywhere.
The backlash was so severe that Anthropologie was forced to delete the video and disable all comments on their Instagram page.
Prominent figures also weighed in on the controversy.
Dr. Jordan B Peterson, a renowned clinical psychologist and professor of psychology, took to Twitter to condemn Anthropologie’s actions. He said, “Smooth move @Anthropologie: schooled in the @Budweiser brand of customer depreciation.” Peterson’s tweet was met with widespread agreement from those who felt that Anthropologie had betrayed its female customer base.
Smooth move @Anthropologie: schooled in the @Budweiser brand of customer depreciation https://t.co/Ivv4BTuIWo
— Dr Jordan B Peterson (@jordanbpeterson) May 4, 2023
Peterson referenced Bud Light, who just yesterday had to address their decline of beer sales, which were attributed to a single social media post that featured transgender influencer, Dylan Mulvaney. It seems Anthropologie did not learn the lesson, as their controversy, just like Bud Light’s, has raised questions about the company’s commitment to the public’s values.
Gina Bontempo, Candace Owens’ former assistant, also spoke out against the ad.
In a tweet, she wrote, “Turns out women don’t want to see a man advertise women’s clothing that doesn’t even fit him, let alone see his bulge.”
Turns out women don’t want to see a man advertise women’s clothing that doesn’t even fit him, let alone see his bulge. pic.twitter.com/B9SCAAerde
— Gina Bontempo (@FlorioGina) May 4, 2023
The controversy has once again highlighted the need for companies to be mindful of their customers’ values and beliefs. Anthropologie, in this case, appears to have failed to understand the concerns of its female customer base and has paid the price for it.
The message from the public is clear: stop erasing women. Women’s clothing brands need to understand that their customers want to see clothes modeled by women, not men. Anthropologie’s misstep serves as a cautionary tale for other companies.
Here are some of the comments from outraged women on the brand’s Instagram.
