Hollister Models Post Racist Photos from South Korea Store Opening, Get Fired

Surf-prepster brand Hollister's dude posse of shirtless "lifeguard" models got into trouble for racist photos and actions at a recent store-opening in Yeouido, South Korea. 



One all-American-appearing brand ambassador in a "Hollister Surf Guard" t-shirt posed making fake "slanty-eyes" in front of local tourist attraction, Royal Gueongbokkung Palace and posted the photo on his personal Twitter account. When a follower commented 'please look at how many Asians liked that picture... Impressive', the model from the photo wrote, with a fake "Asian" accent, 'Hahahaha they ruhhvvvv ittt!'.

In another, separate incident, reported on by the U.K. paper The Daily Mail, a model posing with locals during the store opening was covertly giving the middle finger to the camera. 

Both incidents were originally reported on Sept 7th by English-language Korean blog KoreaBang. Koreans aware of the incident, the paper said, were offended. "I've got to go and return the clothes that I bought," KoreaBang reported one local saying.

The Hollister tradition of flying in for store openings what KoreaBang described as "robust foreign men dressed like lifeguards, wearing nothing on their chests but whistles" also stirred up some local racism and sexism, as comments on the blog indicated. The presumably male commenters objected to the Korean women who would enjoy posing and having their photo taken with the Hollister models and made slurs against both Korean girls and whites in general.

Hollister told Yahoo! Shine that the models responsible have been fired, and provided a company statement that reads: "On behalf of our more than 80,000 associates around the world who cherish our core values and our culture of diversity and inclusion, we sincerely apologize for the offense caused by these unauthorized, ill-considered actions."

full story HERE

Lawd, I love their overpriced print-shirts.

But, I stopped shopping at Hollister years ago when I realized that I didn't see any black or latino workers in any of their stores.

I'm not saying that they're racists--it just seemed that they were, however, catering to a certain young, white urban-ish A&F demographic of which I wasn't part of. Plus, I'm too damned old to wear their clothes anyway.

It doesn't surprise me to see shit like this at all. I mean, it wasn't too long ago when Alexandria Wallace's "Ching Chong Ling Long" business went viral on the Internet---What does surprise me, and gives me hope, is how angry and swift Asian reactions have become.

Yeah, I walked into a Hollister store ONCE...that was enough.

I mean, I realize that they're going for a certain "look"...which is fine, I believe in free enterprise...but then I choose to spend my money elsewhere.

PurpleJedi said:

Yeah, I walked into a Hollister store ONCE...that was enough.

I mean, I realize that they're going for a certain "look"...which is fine, I believe in free enterprise...but then I choose to spend my money elsewhere.

At hot topic?

imago said:

PurpleJedi said:

Yeah, I walked into a Hollister store ONCE...that was enough.

I mean, I realize that they're going for a certain "look"...which is fine, I believe in free enterprise...but then I choose to spend my money elsewhere.

At hot topic?

And Foot Locker. He needs tennis shoes, too.

imago said:

Lawd, I love their overpriced print-shirts.

But, I stopped shopping at Hollister years ago when I realized that I didn't see any black or latino workers in any of their stores.

I'm not saying that they're racists--it just seemed that they were, however, catering to a certain young, white urban-ish A&F demographic of which I wasn't part of. Plus, I'm too damned old to wear their clothes anyway.

It doesn't surprise me to see shit like this at all. I mean, it wasn't too long ago when Alexandria Wallace's "Ching Chong Ling Long" business went viral on the Internet---What does surprise me, and gives me hope, is how angry and swift Asian reactions have become.

No A&F is geared to the ghey folk and Hollister is the straight folks store. (Remember, same company). The imagery in the stores support my claim. Just saying.

The hollister at our mall could be used in a Benetton add. Just saying.

And Hollister did the right thing by firing those idiots.

This isn't about Hollister - not that I even knew what a Hollister was before this thread.

I think it's more a reflection of your average young American male...I am not even going to say average white male, as I can see any race in the US doing this kind of thing.

Genesia said:

imago said:

At hot topic?

And Foot Locker. He needs tennis shoes, too.

Imago

Genesia

I don't even know what a Hot Topic store is, but I'm betting it isn't good.

I can't wait for there to be an Org Invasion in Genesia's hometown...I'll make everyone wear running shoes.

JustErin said:

This isn't about Hollister - not that I even knew what a Hollister was before this thread.

I think it's more a reflection of your average young American male...I am not even going to say average white male, as I can see any race in the US doing this kind of thing.

...and you'd think that the average Canadian, Mexican, Scottish, or whatever young male wouldn't?

Actually you're probably right.

Hollister/Abercrombie & Fitch has an pending sexual harassment lawsuit

http://www.courthousenews.../47591.htm

Beautifulstarr123 said:

Hollister/Abercrombie & Fitch has an pending sexual harassment lawsuit

http://www.courthousenews.../47591.htm

Damn.

imago said:

Lawd, I love their overpriced print-shirts.

But, I stopped shopping at Hollister years ago when I realized that I didn't see any black or latino workers in any of their stores.

I'm not saying that they're racists--it just seemed that they were, however, catering to a certain young, white urban-ish A&F demographic of which I wasn't part of. Plus, I'm too damned old to wear their clothes anyway.

It doesn't surprise me to see shit like this at all. I mean, it wasn't too long ago when Alexandria Wallace's "Ching Chong Ling Long" business went viral on the Internet---What does surprise me, and gives me hope, is how angry and swift Asian reactions have become.

I felt the same way at first, but my daughter introduced me into shopping there this summer. I now own two pairs of jeans, a bathing suit, and a t-shirt. I caught their sales, and at certain times, they offer discount coupons for your future purchases. The employees where we shopped appeared to be a mixture of races.

PurpleJedi said:

JustErin said:

This isn't about Hollister - not that I even knew what a Hollister was before this thread.

I think it's more a reflection of your average young American male...I am not even going to say average white male, as I can see any race in the US doing this kind of thing.

...and you'd think that the average Canadian, Mexican, Scottish, or whatever young male wouldn't?

Actually you're probably right.

Perhaps, but we are not talking about Canadian, Mexican, Scottish or whatever...the story it about young American men. I am commenting on that.

PurpleJedi said:

Beautifulstarr123 said:

Hollister/Abercrombie & Fitch has an pending sexual harassment lawsuit

http://www.courthousenews.../47591.htm

Damn.

Yeah

JustErin said:

PurpleJedi said:

...and you'd think that the average Canadian, Mexican, Scottish, or whatever young male wouldn't?

Actually you're probably right.

Perhaps, but we are not talking about Canadian, Mexican, Scottish or whatever...the story it about young American men. I am commenting on that.

Ohhh. See, when you said "it's a reflection of your average young American male" I took that to mean that you thought this was typical of American behavior (not young male behavior).

Although you specifically did say you'd see any race in the US doing this...which to me at least implies that it's "American" behavior.

So which is it?

PurpleJedi said:

JustErin said:

Perhaps, but we are not talking about Canadian, Mexican, Scottish or whatever...the story it about young American men. I am commenting on that.

Ohhh. See, when you said "it's a reflection of your average young American male" I took that to mean that you thought this was typical of American behavior (not young male behavior).

Although you specifically did say you'd see any race in the US doing this...which to me at least implies that it's "American" behavior.

So which is it?

Not sure what is confusing here.

I was commenting on what I feel is probably typical of young American males and that's all I said.

If you want to read more into fine but what I said is pretty clear - "average young American male".

JustErin said:

PurpleJedi said:

Ohhh. See, when you said "it's a reflection of your average young American male" I took that to mean that you thought this was typical of American behavior (not young male behavior).

Although you specifically did say you'd see any race in the US doing this...which to me at least implies that it's "American" behavior.

So which is it?

Not sure what is confusing here.

I was commenting on what I feel is probably typical of young American males and that's all I said.

If you want to read more into fine but what I said is pretty clear - "average young American male".

OK. Got it.

But you gotta give me a break; didn't you read ThisOne's "over 40" thread? I'm losing brain cells faster than my hairline is receding.

JustErin said:

PurpleJedi said:

Ohhh. See, when you said "it's a reflection of your average young American male" I took that to mean that you thought this was typical of American behavior (not young male behavior).

Although you specifically did say you'd see any race in the US doing this...which to me at least implies that it's "American" behavior.

So which is it?

Not sure what is confusing here.

I was commenting on what I feel is probably typical of young American males and that's all I said.

If you want to read more into fine but what I said is pretty clear - "average young American male".

Americans are touchy about being stupid to the point where they will see insults where none were made.

sexton said:

JustErin said:

Not sure what is confusing here.

I was commenting on what I feel is probably typical of young American males and that's all I said.

If you want to read more into fine but what I said is pretty clear - "average young American male".

Americans are touchy about being stupid to the point where they will see insults where none were made.

Oh you definitely get one...

PurpleJedi said:

sexton said:

Americans are touchy about being stupid to the point where they will see insults where none were made.

Oh you definitely get one...

PurpleJedi said:

JustErin said:

Not sure what is confusing here.

I was commenting on what I feel is probably typical of young American males and that's all I said.

If you want to read more into fine but what I said is pretty clear - "average young American male".

OK. Got it.

But you gotta give me a break; didn't you read ThisOne's "over 40" thread? I'm losing brain cells faster than my hairline is receding.

When you think of Hollister, think of the show "Baywatch". It works for me

Beautifulstarr123 said:

PurpleJedi said:

OK. Got it.

But you gotta give me a break; didn't you read ThisOne's "over 40" thread? I'm losing brain cells faster than my hairline is receding.

When you think of Hollister, think of the show "Baywatch". It works for me

Sorry. "Baywatch" makes me think of Pamela Anderson.

Why? Where there dudes on that show???

PurpleJedi said:

Beautifulstarr123 said:

When you think of Hollister, think of the show "Baywatch". It works for me

Sorry. "Baywatch" makes me think of Pamela Anderson.

Why? Where there dudes on that show???

Why didn't they use the power of their amazing abs to make the problem disappear?

Beautifulstarr123 said:

PurpleJedi said:

Sorry. "Baywatch" makes me think of Pamela Anderson.

Why? Where there dudes on that show???

AGAIN, I ask, where there dudes on that show???

I'm wearing their skinny fit sweatpants right now! But that was after a search for that type of item, not because of the brand. My girlfriend did not like the previous sweats I wore making breakfast and stuff, cuz they were too baggy.

PurpleJedi said:

Beautifulstarr123 said:

AGAIN, I ask, where there dudes on that show???

I do not know what dudes that you speak of, but I was only synonymously speaking as far as imagery. The surf prep dudes of Hollister reminds me of the show "Baywatch". Just saying.

NDRU said:

Why didn't they use the power of their amazing abs to make the problem disappear?

Genesia said:

imago said:

At hot topic?

And Foot Locker. He needs tennis shoes, too.