Insensitive

Kenneth Cole Slammed for Egypt Tweet

Said Cairo protests were for his “new spring collection.”

Violence in Egypt is escalating—but someone in the fashion industry didn’t get the memo. Designer Kenneth Cole is untangling himself from a PR flap after he tweeted that Egypt’s uprising was due to his new spring collection. On Thursday morning, Cole tweeted, “Millions are in uproar #Cairo. Rumor is they heard our new spring collection is available online … KC.” The KC indicated the tweet came from Cole himself. The tweet drew criticism online, and within an hour, Cole apologized. He released the following statement: “I apologize to everyone who was offended by my insensitive tweet about the situation in Egypt. I’ve dedicated my life to raising awareness about serious social issues, and in hindsight my attempt at humor regarding a nation liberating themselves against oppression was poorly timed and absolutely inappropriate.” The tweet has since been removed.