Versace Issues an Apology to China After T-Shirt Sparks Major Backlash Over ”One China” Policy

Written by @saywooord

Donatella Versace has issued an apology after one of the brand’s shirts broke Beijing’s “one China” policy.

The shirt, which marks Hong Kong and Macau as countries rather than cities, heavily offended actress and singer Yang Mi, spokesperson for Versace, and forced her to severe ties with the luxury brand. According to CNN, Yang made an announcement Sunday, August 11, 2019, on China’s largest social media platform, Weibo. 

“As a company of the People’s Republic of China and Yang Mi as a citizen of the People’s Republic of China, we are deeply offended,” as said in the statement. 

“It is the duty of all Chinese citizens to uphold the “One China” principle and adamantly safeguard national unification,” also said the statement and translated in the China Daily newspaper.

Along with Donatella’s apology, the brand submitted an apology stating the shirt is no longer for sale, tweeting, “The Company apologizes for the design of its product, and a recall of the T-shirt has been implemented in July.”

Donatella’s apology was uploaded to Instagram,  saying, “I am deeply sorry for the unfortunate recent error that was made by our Company, and that is being currently discussed on various social media channels. Never have I wanted to disrespect China’s National Sovereignty, and this is why I wanted to personally apologize for such inaccuracy and for any distress that it might have caused.”

Following the negative feedback, both Coach and Givenchy have issued apologies as they have similar shirts on the market as well.