Diesel Responds To Backlash for Recruiting Nicki Minaj for Anti-Bullying Campaign

Music, News - 4 years ago

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A post shared by Barbie® (@nickiminaj) on Sep 18, 2018 at 3:28pm PDT

Fashion brand Diesel just announced Nicki Minaj as one of the faces of its Autumn/Winter 2018 “hate couture” campaign to combat cyberbullying, and critics have voiced some concerns.

Diesel recruited Minaj, Gucci Mane, actors Bella Thorne, Tommy Dorfman and Yoo Ah-in, and model Jonathan Bellini, to be the faces of the line. In the advert video, the celebrities took the most hateful messages they have received on social media and applied the words onto a Diesel design.

You don’t make online hate disappear by hiding it. Introducing #DieselHateCouture feat. @nickiminaj @bellathorne @gucci1017 @tommydorfman @milesdheizer #BarbieFerreira #BriaVinaite #YooAhIn #JonBellini #YoVentura #FW18
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Director #jovantodorovic
Stylist @markymarcmode pic.twitter.com/XXpI9BrsZZ

— Diesel (@DIESEL) September 18, 2018

Nicki Minaj’s shirt reads “The Bad Guy,” while Gucci Mane’s says “Fuck You, Impostor.” Proceeds from the sale of the limited-edition pieces will reportedly be donated to anti-bullying programs at its OTB foundation, a non-for-profit organization.

But Twitter users voiced their concerns over the brand choosing Minaj to helm an anti-bullying campaign after the rapper infamously insulted Wanna Thompson, who critiqued her music earlier this summer.

Minaj has also been accused of sicking her fans on critics and inciting online abuse.

After Twitter users criticized the brand working with Nicki Minaj “We’re here to support anyone who’s getting hated on, and Nicki is one of them.”

https://twitter.com/WannasWorld/status/1042386640956620801

https://twitter.com/WannasWorld/status/1042398689665249282

We’re here to support anyone who’s getting hated on, and Nicki is one of them.

— Diesel (@DIESEL) September 19, 2018

Our enemy is hate, not haters.

— Diesel (@DIESEL) September 19, 2018

https://twitter.com/MrLavalife/status/1042400227271966721

N*cki and Gucci starring in an anti-cyber bullying campaign is how I know there’s not enough Black people in positions of power within the fashion industry.

— Havilland $avage. (@ToiMeetsWorld) September 19, 2018

Diesel doesn’t seem to be budging on their stance, tweeting, “Haters gonna try to deny the hype.”