UPDATE Katy Perry has had her visa revoked after Chinese officials discovered that she performed in Taipei in a sunflower covered dress. Taiwan and China are at odds and the sunflower was at that time a symbol of Chinese opposition. Harry Styles is scheduled to replace Katy Perry. I believe that Taylor Swift is also supposed to be performing.
For some crazy reason, Victoria’s Secret decided to hold their lingerie fashion show in Shanghai this year. That turned out to be a really bad idea. As it turns out, China has lots of strict rules and regulations about media events. The production crew has already been told they are only allowed to film inside the Mercedes-Benz Arena.
In addition, the visa application process is fairly rigorous and a number of very specific requirements must be met. They also do a background check. As it turns out, several fashion bloggers and other members of the press were denied visas. The Chinese government has forbidden any press releases about the runway show.
Gigi Hadid had her visa application denied. I tend to believe that it was due to some minor error on her application that cause it to be kicked out, but some sites are saying it was because of a joke she made a while back at a birthday party. At the party, there were cookies shaped like Buddha’s head. She held the cookie up to her face and tried to mimic the cookie by squinting her eyes. The Internet sort of lost their minds and accused her of mocking Asians. I thought that was a bit of a reach. Russian models Irina Sharipov, Julia Belyakova, and Kate Grigorieva,as well as Ukrainian model Dasha Khlystun were also denied visas according to multiple sources. Bella Hadid apparently has received the proper visa to walk in the show.
At this point, the event is in twelve days and the show might not even be able to go on. It is scheduled to be televised on November 28th.
Meanwhile, Gigi has started filling her Instagram with photos of her charity work that benefits Asian preschools. I kind of feel sorry for her. I haven’t seen any response by Yolanda thus far.
I’m so bummed I won’t be able to make it to China this year. Love my VS family, and will be with all my girls in spirit!! Can't wait to tune in with everyone to see the beautiful show I know it will be, and already can't wait for next year! 🙂 x
— Gigi Hadid (@GiGiHadid) November 16, 2017
Maybe denied because of other visa stamps in passport? Or, issues with previous Nepal/Tibet issues? I forget the rules.
?
I’m guessing they really want to get into that Chinese market. Maybe the plan is to force them to only use Chinese models and contractors.
Yolanda prefers the most successful daughter, always. Kris Jenner training 101
Maybe Trump can get her in, what with his super groovy friendship with human rights violator President Xi.
Well, Gigi, you’ll be able to avoid a horrendously long plane trip, genuinely strange Chinese food (as opposed to the recognizable Chinese dishes we have in the USA), jet lag, and countless runway rehearsals. Take a good break, hang out with your friends, stay in bed all day if you want, and greet them, fresh and rested, when they come home exhausted.
I deal with China alot dealing with social media and buddhism and highly doubt it was because of a Buddha cookie joke especially since Chinese government has a strong anti-buddhist stance. There are so many reasons her passport could have been denied. Most of my dealings with them leave me exhausted because one day they like something and the next day that has changed.
I’m now so curious what your job is! I’ve been studying Buddhism for a year now and it’s helped me tremendously.
mommy an daddy bought her career does anyone really care nope my first instinct was I literally spit my drink out laughing.
Gigi earned her career and has worked hard for it. Ya don’t buy a career the caliber of Gigi’s. It’s earned through dedication and talent.
That’s hilarious, I needed a good laugh.
oh yeah, they did lol
Did she get a DUI when she first went to New York before her big break? Canada won’t let you with a DUI or at least it was that way years ago.
That was Bella and she got in.
Karen, Thank you I couldn’t remember.
I mean I don’t really care for Gigi and Not Gigi, but why do we keep hosting events in these countries? Sure, they’re beautiful places to visit, but in order to respect all their strict laws we shouldn’t force Western customs and consumerism on them if they don’t want it.
Can’t take videos? Don’t film it. Move it to another location. Women not allowed out of the house without a man? Don’t hold fashion shows there. Etc. The mind boggles. We’d cry out for the publicity and press the VS fashion show would give to Edinburgh, or even holding it in London. We’d even let you take pictures.
Yup. This. Same holds true for the Olympics. I am all for supporting the athletes from suppressive countries. I have been known to bawl my fucking head off when a woman from a country known to violate the rights of women marches out in the Opening Ceremonies. But holding events in said countries puts participants in danger.
China is currently the biggest economy in the world right now based on GDP (PPP), followed by USA at second place. Obviously VS wants a share in that market and promote their products by doing it there.
Just like why Mark Z. tried to unblock Facebook in China.
This isn’t the first time Gigi has been publicly disrespectful either culturally or to individuals. Glad she finally saw repercussions.
Please. You need to lighten up. It was a joke made in poor taste; she’s a kid. The PC police are taking over the world and it’s such a bore. Thank God they weren’t around when I was growing up and making plenty of mistakes. Agreeing with a government banning someone from working is ridiculous.
Seriously, she was playfully making her face look like a cookie. She was enjoying her birthday, not making some sort of racist joke.
There’s a lot of $$ over there
Yes, gaining a small percentage of China’s buying power for any product is huge.
New update in post.
When I heard about the show in Shanghai, I utterly forgot all the money in that market. I bet China and South Korea will surpass Japan in discretionary spending, if they haven’t already.
My opinion is that the government likes to keep people on their toes, so they deny visas however they choose .
Indicates the government is in charge.
The sunflower dress thing (Katie Perry) sounds correct for that regime.
It’s frustrating though. Yes there is a lot of money there. There is a lot of money in the middle East. Many places. But do you ever feel if we all stopped providing them with the things they want to buy, the Couture, the Rolls Royces, the jewellery, the champagne, that maybe they would end up just wallowing in their cash and archaic customs?
Idealistic I know. Sigh.
This boggles my m8nd. Victoria Secret is NOT a mom and pop organization, why on earth would they hold it here?? I mean don’t they have someone who is suppose to check this before press releases and travel commitments.this just looks really bad for them and a or nightmare.
I know!! imagine what it’s like to become a citizen???? or to japan?? I’m sorry pro immigrant people but maybe Japan has it right??