Zara removes ‘The Jacket’ photos in wake of Gaza comparisons

Clothing outlet Zara has removed photos from its social media page, which were part of a marketing campaign, after comparisons to the Israel-Hamas conflict were made online.

The original photos, which were a part of “The Jacket” campaign, featured supermodel Kristen McMenamy standing among various boxes, some dismembered mannequins, and debris. Zara issued a statement on Tuesday clarifying that the ad campaign was planned well before the Hamas attacks took place on Oct. 7 and that the use of “unfinished sculptures” in the photos was meant solely for “showcasing craftmade garments in an artistic context.”

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“Unfortunately, some customers felt offended by these images, which have now been removed, and saw in them something far from what was intended when they were created,” the statement read. “Zara regrets that misunderstanding and we reaffirm our deep respect towards everyone.”

The Washington Examiner was told through a source on Monday about when the photos and the ad campaign were planned, and it was also told that photoshopped images from the ad campaign had been shared online to appear more like the attacks in Gaza, none of which were created by Zara.

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Prior to the photos being removed from Zara’s social media, the outlet also removed the photos from the front page of its own website, according to a report.

The initial comparisons people made between the ad photos and the Gaza attacks were made by social media users, some of whom called for a boycott of Zara. The fashion outlet is one of several retailers that have faced threats of a potential boycott in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war, with others including Starbucks and McDonald’s.