Elton John Boycotts Dolce & Gabbana After Designer’s IVF Remarks
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Jason Kempin/Getty Images for EJAF(ROME) — Elton John has launched a boycott against Dolce & Gabbana after one of the Italian designers called in vitro babies “synthetic.”
In an interview with Italian magazine Panorama, designer Domenico Dolce, who is gay, said he was not convinced by “children of chemistry” — whom he called “synthetic babies” — “rented uteruses, semen chosen from a catalogue.”
John, who is raising two young sons conceived through IVF with his husband David Furnish, posted an Instagram message on Sunday, announcing he would never wear Dolce and Gabbana again.
“How dare you refer to my beautiful children as “synthetic”. And shame on you for wagging your judgemental little fingers at IVF – a miracle that has allowed legions of loving people, both straight and gay, to fulfil their dream of having children. Your archaic thinking is out of step with the times, just like your fashions. I shall never wear Dolce and Gabbana ever again. #BoycottDolceGabbana,” the singer wrote.
Ricky Martin and Martina Navratilova have also spoken out against the Italian designers.
.@dolcegabbana ur voices R 2powerfull 2B spreading so much h8 http://t.co/30Oe2hcxNt Wake up,Its 2015 Luv urselves guys #boycottdolcegabbana
— Ricky Martin (@ricky_martin) March 15, 2015
Right on Elton and David http://t.co/qmORSvTnUe My D&G shirts are going in the bin- don’t want ANYONE to wear them
— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) March 15, 2015
The designers have responded by saying they believe in freedom and love.
“We firmly believe in democracy and the fundamental principle of freedom of expression that upholds it. We talked about our way of seeing reality, but it was never our intention to judge other people’s choices. We do believe in freedom and love,” Stefano Gabbana said in a statement.
Dolce added: “I’m Sicilian and I grew up in a traditional family, made up of a mother, a father and children. I am very well aware of the fact that there are other types of families and they are as legitimate as the one I’ve known. But in my personal experience, family had a different configuration. That is the place where I learnt the values of love and family. This is the reality in which I grew up, but it does not imply that I don’t understand different ones. I was talking about my personal view, without judging other people’s choices and decisions.”
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