• Celebrity
    • Of The Essence
    • Celebrity News
    • If Not For My Girls
    • The State Of R&B
    • Time Of Essence
  • Fashion
    • 2023 Best In Black Fashion Awards
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • Red Carpet
    • Fashion News
    • Accessories
  • Beauty
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • 2023 Best In Black Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Hair
  • Lifestyle
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Bridal Bliss
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Money & Career
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
  • Studios
  • Girls United

WHERE BLACK CULTURE, COMMUNITY AND CONSCIOUSNESS MEET

Sign up for ESSENCE Newsletters the keep the Black women at the forefront of conversation.

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
Select the newsletters you'd like to receive:
Please select at least one option.
By clicking Subscribe Now, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Of The Essence
    • Celebrity News
    • If Not For My Girls
    • The State Of R&B
    • Time Of Essence
  • Fashion
    • 2023 Best In Black Fashion Awards
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • Red Carpet
    • Fashion News
    • Accessories
  • Beauty
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • 2023 Best In Black Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Hair
      • Hair News
      • Natural
      • Relaxed
      • Transitioning
      • Weave
      • 4C
  • Lifestyle
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Bridal Bliss
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Money & Career
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · Fashion

Tory Burch Ad Criticized For Cultural Appropriation, And The Internet Wasn't Here For It

The fashion designer has released an apology.
Tory Burch Ad Criticized For Cultural Appropriation, And The Internet Wasn't Here For It
By Crystal Tate · Updated October 26, 2020

Designer Tory Burch has been a topic of heated conversation this week for a video ad entitled “Tory Story: An American Road Trip,” in which the American fashion brand features model Poppy Delevigne and two other Caucasian models dancing to the popular hip hop song “Juju On That Beat” by Black rappers Zay Hilfigerrr and Zayion McCall. 

It’s no surprise to us to see a fashion company using solely white models in an ad but it was a bit of a shock to see Delevigne and the other two models dancing along to the song without out one Black model included. And it was even more shocking to see a handbag shaped like a monkey in the backseat of the car and also seen on the yacht with the models throughout the video. 

Here’s a look for yourself:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BR60RGnB-9t/?taken-by=thacelebriteaofficial&hl=en

Quite honestly, the ad left us speechless — and the Internet didn’t hold back with their outrage.

THIS IS VIOLENCE. RT @KaminaBlue: Chile wtf RT @thacelebritea: Thoughts on #ToryBurch’s new ad? 😐 https://t.co/OqjB9qqOVM

— Zhuliant (@jmill26_) March 22, 2017

 

the only thing wrong with that #ToryBurch ad is that she didn't use any women of color

— #1015501 (@thespiantay) March 22, 2017

 

The #ToryBurch ad is not even representative of the brand. How does that song connect with your audience? Marketing fail.

— Esther (@esther_ladipo) March 23, 2017

 

Not sure what #ToryBurch was thinking when deciding to use "Juju On That Beat" in their new ad, but it's a strong NO FOR ME DAWG. pic.twitter.com/QI2sey0Wp2

— Chasity Cooper 👩🏾‍💻 (@chasityscooper) March 22, 2017

The video, which was directed by Italian fashion editor and stylist Giovanna Battaglia Engelbert, described it as “very colorful, playful, elegant and really Americana” on her website. The irony of an Italian interpreting Americana is quite interesting.

Additionally, Engelbert shared why she chose the song “Juju On That Beat.”

“I wanted the video to be playful and as chic as possible and to put you in a very good mood. ‘Juju on That Beat’ is a happy song; I like the fact that it is a very easy song, too,” she noted.

The 30-second video has since been removed from Tory Burch’s website and social media. The #ToryStory (the original hashtag for the video) URL now redirects to the brand’s Spring Must-Haves page, and the original blog page shows an error message.

Tory Burch released the following statement to Vogue UK today:

The video was intended to celebrate music that we love with our spring collection. It was never meant to be insensitive in any way. We have removed the video from our channels. I personally feel very badly if this hurt anyone and I am truly sorry.

COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now