In a recent design from Gucci that caused controversy since it looked a lot like blackface, the company is now releasing a diversity initiative.
The black balaclava sweater with thick red lips cut-out around the mouth grew mass disapproval from Hollywood with director Spike Lee saying he will no longer wear the brand and 50 Cent boycotting the brand by burning his Gucci sweater.
RELATED: 50 Cent Burns Gucci Shirt To Protest Design House’s Blackface Sweater Controversy
On Monday, the Italian fashion house announced that they have new initiatives to help the African-American community.
The Gucci Changemakers program that started in 2018 will now offer a $5 million fund to help communities of colour with $1.5 million in scholarships in North America. The Hollywood Reporter also writes that the selected college students will get $20,000 over four years.
A statement from Marco Bizzarri, Gucci’s president and CEO, said “I believe in dialogue, building bridges and taking quick action. This is why we started working immediately on the long-term infrastructure at Gucci to address our shortcomings.”
All of the 18,000 Gucci employees will have four paid days off a year where they will volunteer in four areas: equality; support for refugees and the homeless; protection of the environment; and education.
