Why Is Dolce and Gabbana Suing Diet Prada?

Dolce and Gabbana, the luxury fashion house based in Italy, is suing Diet Prada, a popular Instagram account that reports on fashion industry news and calls out plagiarism and offensive behavior. The lawsuit stems from a 2018 incident when Diet Prada accused Dolce and Gabbana of racism in an Instagram post.

The Controversy

In November 2018, Dolce and Gabbana planned to hold a fashion show in Shanghai, China. In the lead-up to the event, the brand released a series of promotional videos featuring an Asian model struggling to eat Italian food with chopsticks. The videos were criticized for being insensitive and perpetuating stereotypes.

In response, Diet Prada shared screenshots of private messages allegedly sent by Stefano Gabbana, one half of the brand’s founding duo. In these messages, Gabbana allegedly referred to China as a “sh*t country” and used racist emojis to describe Chinese people.

The Fallout

The backlash was swift. Chinese celebrities who were scheduled to attend the fashion show pulled out, while popular e-commerce platforms removed Dolce and Gabbana products from their sites. The brand ultimately canceled the show.

Dolce and Gabbana issued an apology video but it failed to calm tensions. Shortly after, Diet Prada posted its exposé on Instagram, which quickly went viral.

The Lawsuit

Fast forward to April 2021: Dolce and Gabbana filed a lawsuit against Diet Prada in Milan for defamation. The brand claims that Diet Prada’s posts caused “serious harm” to its reputation and that it suffered “significant economic damage.”

This lawsuit has sparked debate among fashion industry insiders over whether brands have the right to sue critics who call them out for problematic behavior. Some argue that lawsuits like these are an attempt by brands to silence criticism and avoid accountability.

The Controversy Continues

The lawsuit is ongoing, but it has already had an impact on the fashion industry. Many are questioning whether Dolce and Gabbana’s decision to sue Diet Prada is an attempt to intimidate critics and stifle free speech.

Whatever the outcome of the lawsuit, it’s clear that this controversy has highlighted important issues around cultural sensitivity, racism, and accountability in the fashion industry. It serves as a reminder that brands must be vigilant in their messaging and that consumers are increasingly holding them accountable for their actions.