Perry Ellis Sued for Racist and Homophobic Ad Casting

Lauren Tuck
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A Perry Ellis ad. (Photo: Courtesy)

Fashion advertising campaigns are overwhelmingly white — a report found 84.7 percent of the models cast for fall 2015 fashions were white — but that’s seemingly unintentional. Except in the case of Perry Ellis, the lack of diversity was by design, according to a lawsuit.

In court documents filed in Manhattan Federal Court on Tuesday and obtained by the Guardian, Joseph Cook alleges that chief operating officer and president Oscar Feldenkreis made statements such as “no blacks in my ads” or “anyone who looked too gay.” Cook, president of Original Penguin’s wholesale division, is gay himself and claims that he was “forced to endure highly offensive homophobic, racial, and ethnic slurs” from Feldenkreis, the son of current chief executive officer George Feldenkreis.

“I am deeply saddened as a gay man and someone who has always been proud of who I am no matter my color or sexual orientation that a company executive could be so intolerant of others,” Cook said in a statement released through his attorney, Douglas Wigdor.

Oscar Feldenkreis, whose daughter also works at the company as the brand director of Original Penguin, supposedly told Cook repeatedly, “My dad doesn’t like having black guys in his ads, or anyone who looks too gay.” He’s also set to take over his father’s position next year. Models’ skin color was even reportedly ranked on a coded number system based on Crayola crayons.

Perry Ellis International, which also owns Original Penguin, Ping, and Nike Swim, “categorically denies” the accusations, and said in a statement that the corporation promotes equal opportunity and a positive working environment. “The company is proud of the fact that it is probably one of the most diverse companies in the apparel business following its multicultural roots, stemming from Puerto Rico and Cuba,” the statement read. “Perry Ellis categorically denies any allegations to the contrary. The claims that have been asserted will be vigorously defended against.”

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