The Biggest Fashion Show Blowouts In History
Few industries love drama as much as fashion. Balenciaga is one brand familiar with controversial moments, like releasing a Lay's Potato Chip handbag for over $1500. In 2022, the luxury fashion house also released a highly criticized campaign, which featured children carrying teddy bears in bondage gear. While these are one-off events, at least twice a year for the biggest fashion companies, all press turns towards their fashion shows.
Featuring models strutting down the runway, sometimes even at exotic locations, fashion shows are known to stir up emotions. For example, on one runway, models were pushing each other during a 1991 fashion show for the late French designer, Thierry Mugler. As seen in a video from the catwalk, it's hard to tell what is scripted and what's not as the ladies, including supermodel Cindy Crawford, show their claws. In another staged scuffle, models during a Moschino fashion show pushed and shoved their way to the front of the catwalk.
While some people feel the need for such events is diminishing, others believe they offer an essential reprieve from reality. As one anonymous industry professional told Fashionista, "[Fashion shows are] an escape from the mundane world." Well, they've certainly been known to be eventful. In the modern era, fashion shows have sometimes erupted into a fracas involving audiences and participants, alike. So, strike a pose — and duck for cover — because these are the biggest fashion show blowouts in history.
Nicki Minaj and Cardi B went off
In 2018, there were endless rumors that Nicki Minaj and Cardi B were feuding. However, n an episode of "The Howard Stern Show" (via The Cut) Cardi suggested they'd cleared the air at the Met Gala (above), insisting, "I never was feuding with anybody ... There was a misunderstanding." But just a few months later, things blew up between the two during an "Icons" party thrown by Harper's Bazaar during New York Fashion Week.
As reported by TMZ, hell broke loose when Cardi squared up with Minaj. The situation was said to have escalated when a member of Minaj's security allegedly elbowed the "WAP" rapper in the head, leaving a visible lump as she left. Cardi was also said to have thrown one of her shoes at the star. In a video shared by the outlet, she's held back by multiple men while yelling at Minaj.
Following the incident, Cardi appeared to directly address her adversary with a list of wrongdoings on Instagram. "I've let a lot of s*** slide! I let you sneak diss me, I let you lie on me," she wrote. "When you mention my child, you choose to like comments about me as a mother, make comments about my abilities to take care of my daughter is when all bets are f***in off!!" On an episode of "Beats 1's Queen Radio" (via Variety) Minaj later denied that this had been the case and described the ordeal as embarrassing for both women.
Alexander McQueen went after a critic
As one of the most iconic designers of his generation, Alexander McQueen was an expert in designing fashion and an expert in creating buzzworthy fashion shows. For example, he originally titled his 1998 spring-summer fashion show, "The Golden Shower." Leading up to the event, some of the show's sponsors felt the name was too controversial, so the title changed to "Untitled." Still, the finale featured the models walking under sprinklers. Such stunts certainly caused a stir among the fashion elite.
In 1996, he showcased his autumn-winter collection, "Dante" in a candlelit East London church. Adding to the spooky vibes, the designer also put a skeleton in the front row next to fashion editor and critic, Suzy Menkes. Susannah Frankel, a fellow editor in the audience, recounted McQueen's hijinks. "I remember that he put a skeleton sitting front-row next to Suzy Menkes, which was hilarious," she told The Cut. After the show, McQueen explained his decision. "If I get someone like Suzy Menkes in the front row, wearing her f***ing Christian Lacroix, I make sure that lady gets p***ed on by one of the girls," the designer said, per L'Officiel.
Although Menkes has been said to have been furious with the caper, she has also written about the designer with great affection since. In 2010, following McQueen's tragic death, she wrote a touching eulogy to him for The New York Times, lovingly noting his final words to her. Regarding his carcass-inspired menswear collection earlier that year, he reportedly jeered, "But, bones are beautiful!"
Tahiry Jose's scary pre-show incident
In 2014, "Love & Hip Hop New York" star, Tahiry Jose was due to walk her first runway for Toure Designs at the Angola International Fashion Show when conflict erupted. According to The Jasmine Brand, a security guard named Charles Suggs was alleged to have treated the star with contempt outside of the event. When Jose challenged him on it, the two entered into an argument and he was said to have responded violently. The attack left the reality star briefly hospitalized. Following the frightening ordeal, she sued Suggs, with the lawsuit claiming a variety of mental and physical trauma, including damage to her spine and jaw. As a result of the attack, Jose needed to wear a neck brace and also begin physical therapy.
On Instagram a day following the attack, Jose thanked all her fans for their continued love and support. "I was attacked, assaulted, and violated, while in the workplace, by a man. I was beaten because I am [a] woman with a voice and refuse to be disrespected," she wrote. "Violence against women must stop; a women's voice and refusal to be disrespected,"
A few months later, her alleged attacker pleaded guilty to the assault. As part of his plea deal, Suggs had a five-year restraining order preventing him from getting near Jose in addition to anger management classes, per TMZ.
An unexpected Chanel show guest
During the 2019 Chanel fashion show in Paris, guests could recognize famous models like Gigi Hadid walking down the runway. However, one unfamiliar face on the catwalk was Marie Benoliel, a French YouTube prankster, because she was not supposed to be a part of the show at all.
The comedian, who goes by the stage name Marie S'Infiltre, unexpectedly jumped onto the elaborate runway and began walking alongside the real models. As for her reasoning, she told The New York Times she was trying to lighten the mood. "We're talking about clothing. It has to be joyful, it has to be funny, it has to make people happy," she insisted. "I think nowadays fashion doesn't make people happy. It makes people ridiculous and pretentious." Just a few days earlier, she'd also jumped on the runway during a fashion show from the French lingerie brand, Etam.
During the Chanel show, her fun came to an end. However, it wasn't security who stopped her but Hadid. Video footage shows the supermodel approaching Benoliel and escorting her off the runway. The comedian accused Hadid and several other models backstage of being rude and aggressive to her. However, she countered her point by quipping to The New York Times, "I love Gigi and I think now we can be close friends." Somehow, we can't see that happening.
Gigi Hadid fought off a prankster
The Chanel incident wasn't the first time Gigi Hadid had faced off against a prankster. That same year, in 2019, she and her sister, fellow supermodel, Bella Hadid, exited the venue of a Max Mara show at Milan Fashion Week. As they made their way through a crowd of fans and paparazzi, a man picked Gigi up from behind. Elbowing the man, she wrestled him away, with Bella screaming at him, "Let go of her!" As he ran away, Gigi also yelled at her assailant, "Who the f*** are you? You piece of s***."
After the incident, people praised Gigi for her reaction to the man's actions. "Honestly, I felt I was in danger, and I had every right to react the way I did," she told Lena Dunham for Lenny Letter. "If anything, I want girls to see the video and know that they have the right to fight back, too, if put in a similar situation." Gigi credited her boxing training and former days playing volleyball as providing the muscle memory needed to escape from the situation. "It just came out when he grabbed me — it wasn't a choice. I do have that fighter in me," she explained.
The man in question was Vitalii Sediuk, a Ukrainian reporter and prankster who has a history of committing assaults against celebrities, per Mama Mia. Sediuk defended his actions and told The Hollywood Reporter he was protesting Gigi's fame.
Drama on the Versace runway
When Donatella Versace created her exquisite designs, she perhaps dreamt of customers fighting over these pieces in Versace boutiques. Instead, she had fights internally between two models for the Italian luxury brand. For a 1996 fashion show, Donatella recalled how two of her biggest supermodels for the show, Kristen McMenamy, and Linda Evangelista, couldn't agree on hairstyles. "One day they had a fight about roots. Kristen had arrived with black roots in blonde hair, and Linda arrived with black roots in blonde hair; and both of them went mad, both saying they were first," Donatella told the Independent.
She added the argument became so heated that the models called their hair stylists. "And I was called on as a witness to say who was the first to do black roots in blonde hair." Versace later confessed that McMenamy was the first one with the hairstyle. This wasn't the only time the Italian designer witnessed intense backstage competition. In fact, this seemed to be a common occurrence. "When a new girl came along, oh my God, it was like a war," Donatella admitted.
Not exclusive to its models, the Versace house was also a part of multiple controversies. The brand's one-time designer, Gianni Versace was murdered by a serial killer in 1997. Following his death, Gianni's cousin, Alfredo Versace, used the family name for unlicensed apparel until courts ordered him to stop selling his own version of Versace clothing.
Saint Laurent reportedly despised Tom Ford
A young fashion designer from Texas, Tom Ford had his big break when he was announced as the creative designer for Gucci in 1994. With Ford as the designer, he revitalized the failing brand with well-received designs that brought sexy back to the brand. In the new millennium, the Gucci Group then acquired the eponymous French fashion brand of designer, Yves Saint Laurent. Due to Ford's success at Gucci, he became the creative director of the ready-to-wear division Yves Saint Laurent.
While the founder, Saint Laurent, was only involved in the haute couture portion of the brand, he was not shy about revealing what he really thought about Ford's sexier vision of the ready-to-wear designs, according to W magazine. "The poor man does what he can," Saint Laurent allegedly said. He reportedly also privately voiced his displeasure at the American designer, with Ford claiming he received cruel handwritten letters from Saint Laurent. As recounted in "The Chiffon Trenches: A Memoir" (via W magazine) by the late fashion journalist, André Leon Talley, one note reportedly read, "In 13 minutes, you have managed to destroy 40 years of my work."
Following the acquisition of the Gucci Group, Ford departed from his creative position with the French luxury house. "Yves and his partner, Pierre Bergé, were so difficult and so evil and made my life such misery ... so Yves Saint Laurent doesn't exist for me," Ford said, via W Magazine.
The feud between Naomi Campbell and Tyra Banks
As two of the most iconic supermodels ever, Naomi Campbell and Tyra Banks haven't always been fans of one another. Their relationship first seemed to start off well in the early '90s. Both were part of a group called the "Black Girls Coalition" — a powerful group of successful Black models who protested against fashion brands that would exclusively work with only white models. However, instead of supporting each other as their careers progressed, a divide grew between the up-and-coming Banks and Campbell — the trailblazing veteran.
As detailed in Lesley-Ann Jones' book "Naomi: The Rise and Rise of the Girl from Nowhere," in 1993, the British supermodel was said to have asked Chanel's creative director, Karl Lagerfeld, to exclude Banks from fashion shows by the famous French luxury house. "If she appears, I don't," Campbell reportedly said. The German designer then promptly fired Banks from the Chanel fashion show.
Of course, the American star went on to be a TV personality as the host of "America's Next Top Model." During an episode of "The Tyra Banks Show," Banks even invited Campbell on as a guest for both models to air their grievances. During their discussion, the two agreed that their alleged beef had been perpetuated and exaggerated by some people within the industry, as well as the media. Still, Banks argued that some elements were definitely true — at least from her perspective. "To be honest, Naomi, I'm fearful of you to this day," she said.
The Real Housewives fashion show fight
During Season 2 of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" in 2010, the stars of the reality series attended a fashion show held by Kim DePaola, one of their friends, and an occasional guest on the show. To promote her brand and boutique, Posche, DePaola held the event at a country club in northern New Jersey. However, the runway was the least interesting part of the night.
For starters, Ashlee Holmes, the daughter of Jacqueline Laurita from Season 1, believed that another "RHONJ" alum, Danielle Staub, was threatening her mom. The apparent solution to this problem was for Holmes to pull fistfuls of Staub's hair out of her head. Meanwhile, Staub was also verbally attacked by Teresa Guidice, who eventually chased her out of the venue via a classic "RHONJ" tongue-lashing.
In 2018, DePaola took her Posche brand to New York where she hosted a fashion week presentation. The owner hoped the event would go smoothly compared to her past experiences. "Normally unless the 'Housewives' show up, the ones that I don't like, that's the only time we really have fights or when they show up they usually have an enemy," she told Page Six. Still, she wasn't writing the possibility off completely, stating, "I doubt there's going to be any fights ... but there is drama."
The slap heard around the fashion world
In 2019, some of the hottest New York Fashion Week tickets were presentations by American designer, Zac Posen, prior to the end of the brand after nearly 20 years in business. But one of the most memorable moments from the brand's history of fashion shows occurred before the models even appeared on the runway.
30 minutes ahead of Posen's 2013 fashion show, the city reportedly removed 60 of the guest's seats to avoid a fire hazard. As a result, Posen and his team needed to quickly find a solution for more invited guests than seats that could accommodate them. Marie-José Susskind-Jalou, the French executive of the Jalou Publishing House, and her two daughters, Jennifer Eymere and Vanessa Bellugeon, reportedly left the event out of frustration over the seating arrangement. A member of Posen's PR team, Lynn Tesoro tried to remedy the situation, but Eymere slapped her in the face.
According to the Independent.ie, Eymere held herself accountable for the encounter. "I am sorry, I know it's bad to do that," she said. However, her remorse was brief, as she explained, "It was a small slap ... I didn't hurt her ... She humiliated my mom, and I humiliated her in front of her crew. Voilà." Tesoro took all three women to court over the incident where she sought $1 million in various damages for assault and slander. The case was later settled for an undisclosed amount, according to Elle.
PETA shared its thoughts on fashion week
The organization of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is known for its dedication to animal rights. Some activists even go so far as to throw red paint, symbolizing fake blood, on people wearing fur clothing. Others protest directly at the source, like when activists smeared red paint on the Jean Paul Gaultier store in Paris. As an April fool's joke, PETA even once advertised the "Little Animal Rights Activist's First Paint-Throwing Kit" — a children's toy marketed by a child shooting a stream of red paint with a smile on their face. It may have been a prank, but it still shows that PETA considers the practice synonymous with their organization.
During New York Fashion Week in 2000, the animal rights organization was out in full force. In the middle of the Oscar de la Renta fashion show, two protesters stormed the runway while holding protest signs and chanting, "Oscar de la Renta: Fur Pimp," according to Entertainment Weekly. In a more personal attack, a protester hurled a tofu cream pie at Michael Kors and called him a "fur pimp," per The Washington Post. During the Randolph Duke show, an activist tried to throw paint on a model walking down the runway. He missed her and instead hit front-row attendees like Phillip Bloch, who later furiously said, "I've never dressed any of my clients in fur, but now I will," per Daily News.
The Real Housewives caused a stir at NYFW
Among other celebrities in the front rows of fashion week shows, some of the ladies from the "Real Housewives of New York" were spotted in Manhattan taking in the fashion. Dorinda Medley, Ramona Singer, Sonja Morgan, and Tinsley Mortimer attended Pamella Roland's 2018 fashion show in Chelsea, with cameras following them to later incorporate the experience into their reality show.
In true dramatic fashion, the four women allegedly created havoc at the event, not for their celebrity stature but for their behavior at the event held at Pier 59. "It was disruptive," a guest at the fashion show told Page Six. "They were making such a scene." According to this guest, the gang caused a commotion by chatting too loud. Nicky Hilton looked kind of annoyed ... [they were] just talking super loud through the whole show. Nicky Hilton looked kind of annoyed."
It wouldn't be the only time their loud fashion show commentary would land them into trouble. The following year, Morgan and Medley posted a video from their seats at the Garo Sparo fashion show in New York. In a later-deleted video (via Page Six), the two reality stars could be heard making derogatory comments regarding the physical features of the show's transgender models. The two later backtracked their comments, telling People in a shared statement, "We have a history as long-standing supporters of the LGBTQ community in many ways and apologize for our offensive comments at the fashion show."
Kanye West's political statement prompted walkouts
While Kanye "Ye" West was plenty successful in his music career, he also began branching out into fashion. As early as 2004, West was already making his own clothing lines, starting with Mascotte by K West before debuting his Pastelle brand at the 2009 New York Fashion Week. Following sneaker collaborations with streetwear brand A Bathing Ape and Louis Vuitton, West launched the Air Yeezy brand with Nike before partnering with Adidas, which turned him into a billionaire. Following another lucrative deal with Gap, the star's fashion influence appeared to be growing even more until a controversial day in Paris nearly ruined his empire.
During Paris Fashion Week in 2022, West hosted a surprise fashion show for his ninth Yeezy collection. Along with several of the models, conservative activist, Candace Owens joined West in wearing shirts that read, "White Lives Matter," via Twitter. According to The Guardian, the rapper reportedly told the crowd at the fashion show, "Everyone here knows that I am the leader ... you can't manage me. This is an unmanageable situation." Some celebrities, such as Jaden Smith, walked out of the event. "I don't care [who] it is if I don't feel the message I'm out," Smith posted on Twitter. The rapper, Boosie Badazz, another audience member, also criticized West on the platform. Writing in all caps, he stated, "After all we been through as a race you put this disrespectful s*** on."
G-Eazy's fashion turned criminal
Back in the mid-2010s, Gerald Gillum aka G-Eazy was one of the hottest rappers of the moment. Songs like "I Mean It" and "Me, Myself, and I" with Bebe Rexha, plus a relationship with Halsey, turned him into a star. More than his skills on the microphone, G-Eazy was also known for his sense of style. Ford Models signed him as a male model and he even collaborated with fashion retailer H&M on a capsule collection of clothes inspired by his personal looks. Yet, the rapper once found himself in trouble with the law in the midst of high fashion.
During a 2021 fashion week party in New York City, G-Eazy and his friends reportedly got into a fight at the Top of The Standard hotel, which is also known as the Boom Boom Room. On the receiving end of the fight was a group including Daniel Chetrit, a socialite who is reportedly friends with supermodels like Bella Hadid. Chetrit claimed G-Eazy and his group were responsible for smashing bottles over the heads of others and that the musician himself was throwing punches. As a result of the scuffle, Chetrit needed to get stitches on his head.
The following day police charged G-Eazy with assault, per Page Six. The rapper later pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and was assigned three court-mandated welfare sessions in Manhattan, according to TMZ.