Gigi Hadid has revealed that she will no longer be walking in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in Shanghai, just a few months after she came under fire in China over a controversial video showing her squinting her eyes to imitate Buddha.
The 22-year-old model, who was slated to walk the runway with her sister Bella Hadid, took to Twitter on Thursday morning to say that she won’t be traveling to China to do the show.
‘I’m so bummed I won’t be able to make it to China this year,’ she wrote. ‘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!’
Gigi Hadid revealed that she will no longer be walking in this year’s Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
The model’s Twitter announcement comes just a few months after she was forced to apologize to the Chinese people for a ‘racist’ video of herself squinting her eyes
In September, furious Chinese people warned the supermodel not to attend this year’s show, which is being held in Shanghai this month.
After Chinese web users left thousands of angry comments to boycott Gigi, she had to issue an apology on a Chinese social media platform.
Gigi did not reveal why she pulled out of the show, although it was recently reported that some models were having trouble getting their Chinese visas approved.
Fashionista reported on Tuesday that four models, Julia Belyakova, Kate Grigorieva and Irina Sharipova from Russia and Dasha Khlystun from Ukraine, had allegedly been denied visas.
Although there was no mention of Gigi having issues with her visa, Chinese fans have been demanding that she be denied entry into the country because of her ‘racist’ video.
Gigi’s tweet led to plenty of people questioning why she wouldn’t be attending the show, with some telling that she got what she deserved.
‘It’s what you deserved after that offensive video, and your white a** couldn’t even publicly apologize. We got Bella, we’re good sis,’ a woman named Whitney tweeted.
Daily Mail Online has reached to Victoria’s Secret and Gigi Hadid’s rep for comment.
The video at the center of the outcry was posted onto Instagram in February by Gigi’s 21-year-old sister Bella.
In the clip, which was later deleted, Gigi and friends can be seen at a restaurant, where several are singing Happy Birthday.
Gigi was accused of squinting her eyes to look like Buddha. Angry Chinese people told her not to come to Shanghai for this year’s Victoria’s Secret show
The video was posted earlier this year by Gigi’s sister, Bella. It came back to the spotlight last week after Gigi announced she would go to China in November for the Victoria’s Secret show
In the video, Gigi holds up a cookie in the shape of the Buddha, then smiles and squints her eyes to imitate his face. It has sparked an outcry in the Fast East
Gigi holds up a cookie in the shape of the Buddha, then smiles and squints her eyes to imitate his face.
At the time, other social media users quickly chimed in to criticize Gigi, with many claiming her actions to be ‘racist.’
Seven months later, the controversial video was back in the spotlight after Gigi confirmed she would attend this year’s Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in Shanghai.
She made the announcement on her Twitter and Instagram on August 29, and quickly people in China noticed the old video and publicly voiced their anger.
Hundreds of thousands of people left comments on the internet, calling Gigi racist and telling her not to come to China.
One angry person web user wrote: ‘Don’t come to Shanghai. You’re not welcome here. Screw off!’
Another person posted: ‘[If she] despises Asian people, why would she come to Asia? [I] boycott [her] firmly.’
One commentator challenged Gigi’s actions by saying: ‘Doesn’t she have Middle Eastern blood herself?’ while another piped up: ‘This is y’all woke Palestine queen? Gigi out here mocking Asian people. I would say she’s cancelled but she never started. Rat @GiGiHadid’
Last year, the supermodel also attended the brand’s annual extravaganza in Paris, France
Gigi confirmed she would appear in this year’s Victoria’s Secret show her Twitter on August 29
On Instagram, Gigi’s announcement gathered more than 4.6 million views, however it hasn’t been received well in China with many accusing the model of being racist
Faced with controversy, Gigi has apologised in English and Chinese on Chinese social media
A fourth user said: ‘I suggest that she and her sister Bella should get out of Victoria’s Secret show…’
Global Times, a Chinese state-run newspaper, published a video on its Weibo account, which showed more controversial comments made by Gigi and her mother in the past.
In the clip, Gigi’s mother can be heard telling a make-up artist in a reality TV show to put more eye shadow on Gigi so she ‘doesn’t look Chinese’.
Faced with controversy, Gigi apparently issued a bilingual statement on Weibo to apologise for her actions.
The post is the only one on a verified Weibo account believed to be hers.
It said: ‘It hurts me to hurt anyone, and I want you all to know that it was never my intent to offend anyone through my actions and I sincerely apologize to those who were hurt or felt let down by me.
‘I have the utmost respect and love for the people of China and cherish the incredible memories I have made while visiting in the past. I have learned to be very careful of how my actions can come off or be portrayed, and I’m hopeful you’ll accept my apology. ‘
Then it continued: ‘I hope to meet many of you and let you get to know me for me. I do not condone hurtful behavior and want people and fans of all backgrounds to know they are welcomed, loved, and respected around me and by me.’
Victoria’s Secret will hold its annual fashion show in China for the first time on November 28
It seems that Gigi’s apparent apology has not satisfied angry Chinese people. The post received more than 150,000 comments, both in English and Chinese, and many people said the apology was not sincere.
One user wrote: ‘Sorry, we cannot forgive u .I think if the show isn’t in Shanghai, maybe you won’t say sorry.’
Another person said: ‘Well Gigi, though you apologized,I don’t think you have realized what you did was wrong. Maybe you thought it’s just interesting and there’s no big deal.
‘But both of us know the meaning behind that act. If you apologize just because of the show, PLEASE do not!’
The annual Victoria’s Secrect Fashion Show has been branded as ‘the sexist’ and ‘the most watched fashion shows’ in the world.
Last year, the extravagant runway show, held in Paris, received 1.4 billion views in more than 190 countries.
This month, models including Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, and Karlie Kloss are set to strut their stuff wearing the iconic Angle Wings in China, a strategic and important market for the American lingerie brand.