Timberland Terminates A.P.C. Collab Over Use Of N-Word

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Timberland is ending its relationship with A.P.C. after founder Jean Touitou's repeatedly used the n-word at the brand's fall menswear show in Paris this week. To introduce A.P.C.'s collaboration with Timberland, Touitou also used the phrase, "The Timberland here is a very strong ghetto signifier."

A press representative sent the following statement from Timberland's president, Stewart Whitney, to Racked:

Yesterday we became aware of the offensive remarks made by Jean Touitou during his A.P.C. Fall Menswear show in Paris. We have chosen to immediately terminate our involvement with the A.P.C. brand, including the footwear collaboration we had planned for this fall.

Simply stated, this kind of language and approach is in complete contrast with our values. Timberland seeks to collaborate with designers and brands who are at the forefront of lifestyle trends; equally important, they must also share our values. We will not tolerate offensive language or racial slurs of any kind being associated with the Timberland brand.

Yesterday, A.P.C. sent BuzzFeed a statement saying the brand didn't mean to offend: "During the A.P.C. presentation in Paris Jean Touitou made a reference to two moments in recent popular culture. One being the song 'Niggas in Paris' by Kanye West and Jay Z and the second being the Bernardo Bertolucci film Last Tango in Paris. The connection was used to describe a look for the collection and was in no way intended to cause offense."
· A.P.C. Founder Says N-Word Repeatedly During His Men's Show [Racked]
· A.P.C. Called Its Collection "Last N****s In Paris" [BuzzFeed]