Elton John started the #BoycottDolceGabbana yesterday asking his fans to boycott the fashion brand Dolce & Gabbana after the designers granted an interview in an Italian magazine castigating IVF [in-vitro fertilisation]. Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, co-founders of the brand, called children conceived via the process ‘chemical’ and ‘synthetic’ in an interview with Panorama.
The interview showed that although the two co-founders are gay, and were a couple for 23 years, until 2005, they toe the line of support for ‘traditional’ families. The pair recently showcased this view during the latest Dolce and Gabbana fashion show where the theme was motherhood, and models walked the runway pregnant and with kids.
A part of their commentary in the interview has been translated as;
“We oppose gay adoptions. The only family is the traditional one. No chemical offsprings and rented uterus: life has a natural flow, there are things that should not be changed.”
“You are born and you have a father and mother. ‘At least it should be like that. That’s why I’m not convinced by what I call chemical children, synthetic babies. ‘They are wombs for hire, semen chosen from a catalogue. And then you have to explain to these children who their mother is.’
Asked whether he wanted to be a father, Mr Dolce said: ‘I am gay. I cannot have a child. I don’t believe that you can have everything in life.’
The interview caused a lot of outrage and calls for boycotts from gay rights activists. Elton John added his voice to the condemnation, starting the #BoycottDolceGabbana hashtag. The celebrated musician took it personally, as his two children with husband David Furnish were born via IVF and through a surrogate. Elton wrote on Instagram;
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 Dolce and Gabbana design partners are now trying to backtrack their words in the controversial interview in a new response to Elton John, posted on their social media.
Dolce says that although his family is traditional, he understands ‘different ones’, adding,
“I was talking about my personal view, without judging other people’s choices and decisions.”
Stefano Gabbana said,
“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.”
He says that because he has different views, it doesn’t mean he is intolerant of others.
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