Louis Vuitton‘s most recent Fall 2019 menswear runway show was, as usual, a visual spectacle. Inspired by the late Michael Jackson, models walked the catwalk to some of the musician’s most famous tracks and the musician himself served as one of the key inspirations for the show.
Now, Louis Vuitton has announced that it will not produce any of the MJ-inspired pieces for the Fall 2019 line following the recent allegations against the singer after the release of the Finding Neverland documentary. In a statement to WWD, the brand said, “Louis Vuitton will make sure the collection purely reflects the true values of the brand and of our Artistic Director, and also that there is absolutely no item that directly features Michael Jackson elements. The [Fall 2019] men’s collection has multiple inspirations and will be launched in stores in July.”
The statement comes after a recent interview given by Artistic Director Virgil Abloh in which he said he wanted to focus on the “good side” of the singer, which he has since backtracked on in a formal statement overnight. “My intention for this show was to refer to Michael Jackson as a pop culture artist. It referred only to his public life that we all know and to his legacy that has influenced a whole generation of artists and designers. I am aware that in light of this documentary the show has caused emotional reactions. I strictly condemn any form of child abuse, violence or infringement against any human rights.”
The documentary aired at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival in January, one week after the Louis Vuitton show was held.
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