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Cape Town – Since the news of allegations of sexual harassment against film mogul Harvey Weinstein broke celebrities have strongly come out to denounce the movie producer. (Read more here)
Fashion designer Donna Karan has however come out in support on Weinstein and shifted the blame to the victims.
Speaking to the DailyMail on the red carpet at the CinéFashion Film Awards on Sunday where she was honoured she suggested that women may be "asking for it" because of how they "display" or "present" themselves.
"How do we present ourselves as women? What are we asking? Are we asking for it by presenting all the sensuality and all the sexuality?," said Karan.
She went on to say that she knows Weinstein and his wife and called them wonderful people.
Watch the full interview here:
Celebrities and social media users reacted in outrage to her comments
Actress Rose McGowan - one of Weinstein's alleged victims most vocal opponents and called the DKNY designer "deplorable."
Donna Karan you are a DEPLORABLE Aiding and abetting is a moral crime. You are scum in a fancy dress pic.twitter.com/Vze7lnpdvj
— rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) October 10, 2017
While celebrity chef called her out for her own suggestive advertising.
To @dkny How many seventeen year olds have you dressed like they are, in your words, "asking for it "? https://t.co/oYyO9tfFKz pic.twitter.com/Fck0h5m13R
— Anthony Bourdain (@Bourdain) October 10, 2017
See more reactions here:
#DonnaKaran says it is blamed on what we wear! But I didn't have anything special or revealing on when it happened to me! Hmm ??#BoycottDKNY https://t.co/W77KV8LkpO
— ShawtyNTweetland?? (@rippepessister) October 10, 2017
what a shameless POS she is!!! #donnakaran you are the filth that enables men to rape women. #BoycottDonnaKaran
— TogetherWeCan (@jackie_together) October 10, 2017
I can't. Women need to support each other not bring them down. What an poor excuse of a woman. #donnakaran #HarveyWeinstein ?? https://t.co/Y04lSVqfXa
— Nicole Allison (@NikkiBB11) October 10, 2017
So, Harvey Weinstein sexually assaulted women, and Donna Karan said the women asked for it? Wow.#HarveyWeinstein #donnakaran
— DeadGreg (@deadgreggers) October 10, 2017
Her name is #DonnaKaran & she just defended @HarveyWeinstein every woman should keep that in mind next time they're shopping for clothes
— Susan Larson (@suzQ117) October 10, 2017
In a statement released Tuesday morning Karan addressed the comments she made.
She said her comments were taken out of context and "do not represent how I feel about the current situation concerning Harvey Weinstein."
"I believe that sexual harassment is not acceptable and this is an issue that must be addressed once and for all regardless of the individual. I am truly sorry to anyone that I offended and everyone that has ever been a victim," read the statement.
