Erotic underwear company Andrew Christian has landed itself in the spotlight, and in the hot seat for a new advertisement showing a model of color sporting what the company describes as a “slave harness.”
Designer harnesses have become something of a queer fashion statement ever since Olympian Adam Rippon wore one to the Academy Awards in 2018. Andrew Christian intended to get in on the game with the “Slave Net C-Ring Harness,” though shoppers immediately hit more on the tone-deaf marketing than on the accessory itself.
“When you climb into our brand new Slave C-Ring Harness,” the Andrew Christain website advertised, “you’re stepping into your role as the submissive slave that you are. Let him know that you’re here to please in this flattering cut and hot strappy design. Because when you’re wearing this, who could resist punishing a naughty slave?”
Related: Meet the first trans man to model for an Andrew Christian campaign
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Not exactly the smartest caption to put on a model of color, is it?
Andrew Christian has subsequently pulled the ad, and released a statement of apology to The Advocate.
“As you accurately noted in your article,” Jeff White, the cofounder of Andrew Christian, said in his letter, “our ‘Master’ and ‘Slave’ harnesses and underwear only reference the ‘Master’ and ‘Slave’ terminology of the BDSM culture and has nothing to do with anything else. We sincerely apologize if anyone finds the image of the model offensive and we will replace it immediately.”
At the time of this writing, all ad listings for the Slave Net C-Ring Harness have vanished from the Andrew Christian website, and have yet to be replaced. Advertisements for the “Slave Net Brief w/ Almost Naked” underwear design, which featured the same model of color, have also disappeared from the site.
BoylesqueBubble
As usual David, you’re an idiot. Adam Rippon didn’t make “designer” harnesses a thing, and if you studied design as much as you write your stupid interview questions, you’d know that. They’ve been shown in collections many times throughout the last 3 decades.
“…..from a pile of stuff.”
-Miranda Priestly
cuteguy
So black ppl now cannot enjoy sexual fetishes like the rest of us? I personally cannot stand harnesses but that’s my personal choice. This has nothing to do with slavery. It’s a sexual fantasy that we all fantasize about, including men of color.
WashDrySpin
Agreed…this is about a fetish not racism
As a POC I enjoy good leash
G-Man
Why are you always attacking black people I’m beginning to think you’re a racist.
Liquid Silver
I think even Mr. Rogers would give this a facepalm. It’s a sex thing, not a social statement, and exactly why one sees and hears criticism about being overly whiny about stupid things (from me included).
Stop being overly whiny about stupid things and save it for when it matters. You’re diluting what matters and just sound stupid.
MCrisp
“Whiny” “stupid things”?
AZ71
Stupid. There is no controversy and Andrew Christian has probably the most diverse cast of models out there. Its just a sexual harness. Nothing to do with slaves. Just a ridiculous “controversy”.
MCrisp
There is ONE black model. You’re so stupid.
anybody from anywhere
This is just stupid woke white people crap, AGAIN. You think your doing the right thing, but, what your actually doing is being racist. you’re saying that POC can never live out a sexual fantasy about being submissive. or, more to the point, they can never be photographed living out their fantasy because it makes woke white people feel icky. WTF. GET A GRIP.
anybody from anywhere
The Advocate and Queerty need to apologize for stirring this up, and Andrew Christian should NEVER have apologized. White people aren’t the only people with submission fantasies. Brown people got fantasies too!
Joseph1971
It may have been a poor choice when it comes to marketing, but it is hardly racism. I have seen their models in person and they represent people of all colors. I really think we are going a bit to far with this kind of thing, instead we are moving backwards. If we aren’t careful we will have to be careful with everything we say, we do, to the point that all communication breaks down and we only become more divided.
MCrisp
What is it EXACTLY that you feel you won’t be able to say or do?
ScottOnEarth
Regardless of their intent, this was just incredibly tone-deaf and stupid.
Jake123
And then people give out when there is a lack of representation in porn of men of colour in submissive roles!!
MCrisp
Just to be clear…the harness was labeled “slave” not “submissive” there is a difference. You’d do well to learn that.
Jake123
@MCrisp yes I know the difference thanks for the condescension. Slave in this context is a bdsm term. If African American men want to take part in bdsm activities that’s their right same as anyone else. Why are you trying to police other people’s bodies. Policing someone’s sexuality sounds very Republican to me. You’d do well to learn that.
MCrisp
@Jake123. BDSM has nothing to do with slavery. again…you should educate yourself.
Yes, BLACK men can partake in any sexual activity desired. That doesn’t mean Andrew Christian needs to put a BLACK model in a harness labeled “Slave”.
Perhaps you should police your racism and ignorance and you wouldn’t need to pretend to liberate BLACK male bodies…Idiot.
masterwill7
Oh please what a load of bullshit, grow the #uck up to everyone who thinks this is racist… Can’t believe this, so it’s okay for a white guy to wear this, but not for a black guy? That’s racist by itself!
MCrisp
White guys aren’t still involuntarily impacted by slavery.
lmdoane55
Jesus Take The Wheel?? why must everything be freaking pc I just can’t anymore!!! Stop the world I want to get off NOW!!!
TMBisAOK
Are you serious!? I suppose you think BLM is just “freaking pc” too! Smfh
MCrisp
I’m so sorry that calling out problematic behavior is so TRIGGERING for you. But since you want out so badly…there are ways.
TMBisAOK
WOW! Has this comment section been taken over by Trump supporters!? Silly question I guess since WAY TOO MANY gay people voted for Trump than I could ever have fathomed! OF COURSE THIS WAS ABSOLUTELY WRONG AND INSENSITIVE! WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE!?
wiredpup
Shut up Meg.
garybw
The person of color obviously had no problem wearing the outfit, and as far as feeling pressure or fear of losing a future as a model. BUllshit.
Saying no to an outfit is empowerment.
MCrisp
Obviously you’ve never been passed over for a job because you’re of color. You should check out the story of Munroe Bergdorf.
lindenwood315
While I am sure that there was no malice intent behind using a POC to model the clothing, I do find it slightly odd given that AC rarely uses POC models in general. Why this model, why this particular piece of clothing… Not calling anything racist or racial but it definitely makes me wonder what he was thinking ?
Kangol2
Poor choice by Andrew Christian & I’m kind of amazed they flubbed this at this particular moment, but hey, was any BIPOC even involved in the marketing? I mean, I don’t expect the models to respond but clearly someone at the company could have seen this was going to be a #FAIL? No?
lindenwood315
Agree with you 100%
Aj76
I honestly think PC has gone mad… we have seriously lost the plot.
Godabed
Andrew Christian is a trash brand, that has continued to employ and advertise an alleged rapist even after they said they wouldn’t. They have no integrity what so ever. Furthermore they have perpetuated white supremacy in the lgbtqia community with their terrible ads, and white frat boy behavior. I highly doubt they have many people of color working for them in roles that “someone” or “anyone” would have pointed out that’s not appropriate.
I would never wear their brand.
ShowMeGuy
Do you believe that black frat boy behavior is any better?
Aj76
I think PC has gone mad… we have seriously lost the plot… so my bf is a POC, does that mean he shouldn’t be wearing this harness?! WTF is the world coming to.
MLS
This is insanity! No one should be offended over this. People need to get a life. I’m thankful that most of the commenters realize that – makes me have faith in humanity a little more.
MCrisp
LMFAO. Most of the commenters are decrepit, Trump voting, white gays who “survived” AIDS giving them license to be an idiot bigot. Simmer down, Boomer.
Wicked Dickie
:…There is no controversy and Andrew Christian has probably the most diverse cast of models out there…”
“…While I am sure that there was no malice intent behind using a POC to model the clothing, I do find it slightly odd given that AC rarely uses POC models in general. Why this model, why this particular piece of clothing…”
One commenter says that AC uses a lot of POC models, yet another says that they rarely use POC models. Which is it?
DarkZephyr
I think you can find out simply by googling “Andrew Christian Models”. I was going to post a link directly to their current lineup but that put the comment into “awaiting moderation” hell, which it never would have pulled back out of.
jackscott
This is so foolish! “Slave” as a kink is just role play, it isn’t racist! People need to stop trying to be “woke” and creating non-issues.
mastik8
Did anyone look in to who exactly “Gabriel, who withheld his last name due to privacy concerns” is? This isn’t passing the smell test. We already know, because they admitted it, that the Fox News/RNC military industrial complex, leaks items to make the Left look even further Left in an effort to turn people off to them. Gabriel is probably some unemployed Trump supporter living in his parents basement. Sadly, the Left swings at every pitch so here we are.
Cam
This seems like an easy issue to have avoided. Even if something is only going to offend 10% of your audience, most businesses can’t afford to lose 10% of their business.
But NOBODY in the shoot caught it and thought it could be an issue? Let me guess, the shoot after this had a model with a hat and long curly sideburns wearing underwear with a yellow star of David?
Again, it may not have offended everybody, or even the majority, but it was definitely a marketing screwup.
ShowMeGuy
Nobody at the shoot caught it because obviously there weren’t any racist dumbasses at the shoot.
Jake123
I disagree. If that’s the case we can kiss goodbye to basically any new art, music, film as there will always be something that offends someone.
ShowMeGuy
For the love of Cher.
MCrisp
Cher would call this racism.