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H&M

The Weeknd to end H&M partnership over ‘monkey’ ad controversy

Update: H&M said it would take action to "prevent this type of mistake from happening again" following growing criticism over an advert that provoked racism accusations.

Published: 9 January 2018 11:34 CET
Updated: 9 January 2018 13:48 CET
The Weeknd to end H&M partnership over 'monkey' ad controversy
The Weeknd (left) was critical of the H&M ad. Photo: Scott Roth/AP

Canadian singer The Weeknd ended his partnership with the Swedish clothing giant after it caused outrage by releasing an advert featuring a black child wearing a “coolest monkey in the jungle” hoodie.

The company apologized on Monday following accusations of racism on social media regarding the advert. The Weeknd – real name Abel Makkonen Tesfaye – subsequently tweeted that he was “shocked and embarrassed” by the image and would not work with H&M again in the future.

The multiple Grammy Award-winning performer, who has had several number one albums in the US and Sweden, previously worked on two collaborations with H&M, the second of which was released in the autumn of 2017.

READ ALSO: H&M removes ad after racism accusation

He was not the only high profile figure to criticize the advert. Rapper and businessman Sean Combs also took aim, calling for more “respect” from the fashion brand.

Basketball icon LeBron James said the Swedish company had “got us all wrong!”.

And Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku also responded to the ad, posting an edited version on his Instagram profile.

On Tuesday afternoon H&M released a statement saying it had withdrawn the hoodie from sale and would “thoroughly investigate” to make sure there is not a repeat of the incident.