Dear Ralph Lauren,
After viewing the image of Filippa Hamilton that you allowed to be retouched to the point of distortion, I am sincerely concerned that you have no values, are completely unethical, and have no regard for the viewers of this advertisement. Not to mention the lack of respect, and the lack of concern for the mental and physical health of your models.
In no way is this image going to sell clothes. It is impossible to even look past the emaciated skeleton and notice what she is wearing. It is bad publicity. I have read many comments online from your loyal customers, and none of them are positive. One read, “…but this has just put a whole new spin how I view this company!” It turns people against you.
What do you suppose this image says to young girls and women? Viewers tend to typically want to look like the models they are seeing- but this is a completely unrealistic idea of what beauty is. It is an unattainable image that no one can live up to in real life. It is doing nothing but opening the door to even more eating disorders than are already present. It’s terrible that an image like this is what girls, as young as ten, are seeing and striving to look like. I hope you will be proud when an eleven year old dies of anorexia.
It is completely unethical and unreasonable that a pregnant woman, Gisele Bunchen, is photographed pregnant and then her stomach is photoshoped out. How about taking a picture of someone who isn’t pregnant instead if that’s the not the look you want?
The fact that you try and hide the picture of Filippa Hamilton and the fact that you’ve stooped as low as to try and sue critics for commenting on it has done nothing but made you look worse. It has done absolutely nothing but inspired critics to step up their efforts to expose you in the future. Copyright laws do NOT give you the right to threaten critics for pointing out obvious problems.
There is no point in photoshoping these images anymore. The public clearly sees what is going on and it’s making you lose all credibility. It’s like the public is being lied to- they know it’s not real. Lying and trying to silence critics is simply adding to the negative image you have now made for yourself.
I strongly urge that you discontinue promoting this unrealistic promotion of body image. Start using models who actually look healthy; stop making them starve. Start targeting real women! Furthermore, stop lying with your false advertising. Start stating “this image is___% photoshoped next to the copyright symbol. Maybe you’ll save a little girls life when she knows it’s impossible and gain some respect back.
Please take responsibility for your actions and do something about them. Fix what you’ve done and get some dignity back.
Sincerely,
Kara Scovitch
