Louis Vuitton drops Jackson designs after abuse claims

LOUIS VUITTON has removed references to Michael Jackson from its new collection following the release of the Leaving Neverland documentary.

The designer’s most recent men’s collection, showcased on catwalks during Paris fashion week in January, was inspired by the pop star and had been due to appear in stores in July.

It featured glittering gloves, military insignia, tops embroidered with the Heal The World record cover, and Tshirts with a moonwalk dance design.

But the French fashion house has now stripped the collection of its Jackson tributes after Wade Robson and James Safechuck claimed in a fourhour Channel 4 documentary that they were sexually abused by the late singer.

Jackson’s estate has strenuously denied the claims and is suing HBO, which showed the documentary in the US, for $100m (£77m).

Gieves & Hawkes, the Savile Row tailor that created the military jacket for Jackson’s Bad tour, has removed a replica from display in its store.

Michael Burke, the chief executive of Louis Vuitton, said the allegations were “deeply troubling” and had caused the brand “the greatest of pain”, but stopped short of an apology, adding, “child safety and welfare is of the utmost importance” to the firm.

Virgil Abloh, the artistic director, said the firm had been unaware of the film before the last show and condemned “any form of child abuse”. He said the intention “was to refer to Michael Jackson as a pop culture artist.”

Since the film was broadcast earlier this month, radio stations have dropped songs and The Simpsons has pulled a 1992 episode featuring Jackson’s voice.