Zara clarifies controversial ad campaign has nothing to do with Gaza

Fashion retailer Zara has clarified that a recent ad campaign on social media was not related to the October attacks in Gaza in the wake of calls for a boycott of the outlet.

The posts made on Zara’s Instagram page were meant to advertise “The Jacket” collection from the retailer. However, some people on social media have claimed that the use of dismembered mannequins and rubble in the photos mimics the attacks that occurred in October.

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The Washington Examiner was told through a source that the ad campaign had been conceived in July, with the photos for the campaign taken in September — well before the attacks on Oct. 7. The source also said there was no hidden message or agenda meant to be communicated via the photos of the campaign.

Additionally, the Washington Examiner was informed that photoshopped images of “The Jacket” ad campaign had been shared online, which were edited to appear more like the attack in Gaza. None of these photoshopped photos were created by Zara.

The fashion retailer also told iNews, a media outlet based in the United Kingdom, that the campaign had been planned before the attacks and that “perhaps this was very bad timing.”

Beyond featuring rubble and mannequins, one of the photos in the campaign features supermodel Kristen McMenamy carrying a mannequin draped in white cloth. Social media users have reportedly compared the photo to victims of the Israel-Hamas war, as they are usually wrapped in white cloth.

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As of Monday afternoon, Zara removed its photos of “The Jacket” ad campaign from the front page of its website, according to a report.

Zara is the latest outlet to face a potential boycott in relation to the war between Israel and Hamas, as other businesses, including McDonald’s and Starbucks, have faced similar calls.