![Abercrombie Anti-Plus-Size Controversy Abercrombie Anti-Plus-Size Controversy](https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/square/000/013/028/abercrombie-CEO.jpg)
Abercrombie Anti-Plus-Size Controversy
Overview
Mike Jeffries's Anti-Plus-Size Controversy refers to various online backlashes surrounding the current CEO of American fashion retailer Abercrombie & Fitch and his alleged advocacy of anti-plus-size policy in order to appeal to "thin and attractive" customers.
Background
On May 3rd, 2013, Business Insider published an article[1] titled "Abercrombie & Fitch Refuses To Make Clothes For Large Women," which cited several quotes from retail industry analyst Robin Lewis accusing Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries of trying to exclude overweight customers from shopping at his stores. The article also went on to mention that Jeffries had previously stated in an interview with Salon in 2006 that the company was intentionally exlusionary and only wished to market to "cool kids."
![cab.jpg Abercrombie & Fitch TRADEMARK SINCE 18 92 When asked why he refuses to make clothes for larger women Abercrombie CEO Michael Jeffries responded: "In every school there are the cool and popular kids, and then there are the not-so-cool kids We go after the cool kids. We go after the attractive all- American kid with a great attitude and a lot of friends. A lot of people dont belong in our clothes and they can't belong. Are we exclusionary? Absolutely That's why we hire good-looking people in our stores Because good-looking people attract other good- looking people, and we want to market to cool, good- looking people. We dont market to anyone other than that."](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/542/566/cab.jpg)
On Reddit
Then on May 7th, Redditor NJFiend submitted a link to the Salon interview article in a post titled "TIL The CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch went on record as saying he does not want fat or unattractive people wearing his clothes or employed at his company," receiving over 8,800 up votes and nearly 2,000 comments prior to being archived.
![c87.jpg 个 bigdamnjay .H 1386 points 1 day ago (21191733) He looks like he was bobbing for apples in a bucket of bees. permalink source report give gold save-RES reply hide child comments](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/542/333/c87.jpg)
Notable Developments
Redditors were quick to point out Jeffries' own lack of physical appeal, creating a slew of images insulting his looks and comparing him to actors like Gary Busey and Thomas Wilson in the process.
![c6a.jpg WANTS ONLY ATTRACTIVE PEOPLE TO SHOP IN HIS STORES LOOKS HIDEOUS](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/masonry/000/542/289/c6a.jpg)
![Abercrombie CEO Mike Jeffries IF THE CEO OF ABERCROMBIE & FITCH ONLY WANTS ATTRACTIVE PEOPLE WEARING HIS BRAND THEN HE'S GONNA HAVE TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE OFF THAT SWEATER](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/masonry/000/542/296/2ed.jpg)
![8d0.jpg KEEPSUGLY PEOPLE OUTOF HIS STORES IS HIDEOUS](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/masonry/000/542/332/8d0.jpg)
![d11.jpg MIKE JEFFRIES CEO of ABOMBIE&FITCH BIZARRO SUPERMAN? OLD BIFF TANNEN? ROCKY DENNIS?](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/542/297/d11.jpg)
![443.jpg JUDGING JEFFRIES FOR HIS LOOKS IS NO BETTER THAN HIM JUDGING CUSTOMERS/EMPLOYEES FOR THEIR LOOKS](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/masonry/000/542/340/443.jpg)
![8a1.jpg AM I THE ONLY ONE AROUND HERE WHO ISN'T SURPRISED THE CEO OF ABERCROMBIE AND FITCH IS A SHALLOW D------](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/masonry/000/542/380/8a1.jpg)
![1cf.jpg IFWE MAKE FUN OFTHE ABERCROMBIE CEO BASED ON HOW HE LOOKS ARENT WE PROPAGATING HIS MESSAGE? quickmeme:com](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/masonry/000/542/532/1cf.jpg)
Local News Investigation
Meanwhile, ABC News visited Abercrombie's flagship store in New York City to survey the distribution of available sizes and reported that most items on display were double-zeros and extra-smalls, with few large tops and size 10 pants. The report also confirmed that Abercrombie & Fitch doesn’t carry extra large or extra-extra large for women.
Change.org Petition
On May 8th, Change.org member Benjamin O'Keefe submitted a petition demanding Jeffries to make clothes for all sizes available to the customers. The petition has received at least 2,480 pledges as of May 9th, 10:30 p.m. (ET).
![25e.png Sign this petition with 2,484 supporters 516 NEEDED First Name Last Name Email Street Address City Petitioning Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffriesv Zip Code Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Why is this important to you? Optional) Jeffries: Stop telling teens they Sign aren't beautiful; make clothes for teens of all sizes! Display my signature on Change.org By signing, you accept Change.org's terms of service and privacy policy. 11 Petition by Benjamin O'Keefe Gotha, FL](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/542/443/25e.png)
#FitchTheHomeless
On May 13th, Los Angeles-based writer Greg Karper uploaded a YouTube video[12] in which he proposed a "brand readjustment" campaign to donate all Abercrombie & Fitch apparel to local homeless shelters in protest against the company's controversial marketing strategy. The video (shown below), which shows Karper visiting a Goodwill store to purchase used Abercrombie clothes and handing them out to the needy in the Skid Row, immediately drew support from Reddit[13], Twitter[14] and elsewhere, racking up one million views in less than 48 hours. In the same time frame, the hashtag #FitchTheHomeless was retweeted more than 33,000 times.[15]
Search Interest
External References
[1] Business Insider – Abercrombie & Fitch Refuses To Make Clothes For Large Women
[2] Reddit – TIL The CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch went on record as saying he does not want fat or unattractive people wearing his clothes or employed at his company
[3] ABC News – Small Sizes an Overweight Distraction for Abercrombie & Fitch via Way Back Machine
[4] Huffington Post – Sizing Up Abercrombie -- a Letter to Mike Jeffries
[5] Current TV – Abercrombie & Fitch doesn't want 'larger people' shopping in its stores
fm6. Huffington Post – Are You Cool Enough to Shop at Abercrombie & Fitch?
[7] WebProNews – Abercrombie & Fitch Controversy: Are We Exclusionary? Absolutely
[8] Perez Hilton – Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Doesn't Want Overweight People Wearing Their Clothes
[9] Reddit – Search Results for Mike Jeffries
[10] Salon – The man behind Abercrombie & Fitch
[11] Change.org – Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries: Stop telling teens they aren't beautiful; make clothes for teens of all sizes!
[12] YouTube – Abercrombie & Fitch Gets a Brand Readjustment #FitchTheHomeless
[13] Reddit – #FitchtheHomeless is a campaign to give your A&F clothes to the homeless and show the CEO who's boss.
[14] Twitter – Search Results for #FitchTheHomeless
Top Comments
Beta_Carotene
May 09, 2013 at 07:25PM EDT
Fanimusmaximus
May 10, 2013 at 05:41PM EDT