The Problem With Palatable Protests
Text by Divina Boko
On September 13th, 2026, CFDA President Steven Kolb was placed on leave after assaulting two PETA protesters during the COS runway show. Videos showed him dragging a protester, even going as far as to place one of them between his legs while covering her mouth. This caused outrage worldwide. Fellow CFDA voting member Lyas posted a reel with the caption: “As a voting member of the CFDA, I’m ashamed.” On September 19th, Kolb was left with no other choice but to resign. When scrolling through netizens’ comments, the majority considered this to be reasonable and believed that the consequences needed to match the severity of his actions. I was, however, surprised to find that many people, although they believed Kolb acted outside of his jurisdiction, thought he was right to take matters into his own hands. It was then that I realized that we have truly forgotten the real meaning behind protesting.
The First Amendment of the American Constitution states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Now I’m sure the Founding Fathers weren’t thinking about the ethics of using real fur for clothing, but the rule is etched in stone. Protesting has always been a means of sending a message. Although this practice has definitely gained traction since the pandemic, protesting isn’t anything new. From the farmers in the Whiskey Rebellion to the 1960s Civil Rights Movement, we have seen defiance in many ways. With every issue comes its opposition: contrarians who argue, “That’s ridiculous! Why is this even a discussion?” or “There’s literally nothing wrong; what are they complaining about?” and yet, it’s with these objections and justifiable rebellions that we reap the necessary benefits.
Protesting is inherently disruptive. It’s supposed to be. If you follow the current, your voice is bound to be swept away. So, people have taken to making themselves heard using unconventional spaces and methods. Not too long ago, performing a sit-in protest was nothing short of ludicrous. People would be degraded, spat on, assaulted, all because they dared to take up a space that wasn’t theirs. Now? We memorialize the method, some even adopting it on a smaller scale because of how effective it was.
Now, granted, not every protest is one that we’re going to align with. There are definitely some that I turn my head up at: MAGA supporters, homophobia dressed as Christian love, anti-abortion protestors (bonus points if they’re positioned outside of a clinic). It’s reasonable to say that no matter where these gatherings occur, most people would be immediately peeved and disapprove of their arguments, quietly or loudly. The same goes for PETA and their protests.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is an animal rights organization that aims to fight animal mistreatment across different industries such as food, fashion, and beauty. On the surface level, we should all adopt their ideologies. Animals shouldn’t be subjected to inhumane treatment all for the sake of consumerism. At the same time, founder Ingrid Newkirk believes that there is no such thing as being too offensive as long as their message gets heard. In the documentary I Am An Animal, PETA’s board of executives were discussing what imagery to use for an upcoming campaign. One person suggested taking inspiration from a slave, who had a ball and chain around their ankle, and replacing this with a shackled elephant. Tracy Reiman—the acting vice president at the time and in charge of marketing and technology—replied, “That would be great. That would be very good.” They even went as far as to compare animal cruelty to the torture that Jeffrey Dahmer’s victims endured.
Eventually, PETA made its runway debut. Their first and most daring protest was in 1991 at the Oscar de la Renta show, where supporters strutted naked across the floor holding the banner, “We’d Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur!” At least they were committed! In 2006, they interrupted a Burberry show, clothed this time (thank god), with the sign, “Burberry: Fur Shame.” After countless campaigns, Burberry eventually banned fur from future collections in 2018.
Of course, all of these moments were followed by security escorting them off the premises, but that’s the point: security handled it. There are limitations to everything, but there are people in place to ensure everyone’s safety is a priority and that the show can run as smoothly as possible. For Kolb to feel comfortable enough to lay his hands on protestors is abhorrent and disgusting, to say the least. I, as well as others, can see why he felt so strongly, but it goes without saying that he needed to keep his hands to himself. It was also disheartening that all the condemnation happened online and not in the moment; not one person stepped in and broke out of the bystander role. Seeing a man overpower a smaller woman was mind-boggling.
As a fashion lover, I recognize how much time and effort creative directors, the atelier team, and back-of-house staff put into these shows. I can also understand how frustrating it is for that one moment to come crashing down with an interruption as big as these protests. As much as it pains me, PETA isn’t technically wrong. We all have the right to disagree or agree with how they chose to execute it, but saying they shouldn’t be allowed to sets a dangerous precedent for protests that follow. It tells others that you can protest but only when it’s convenient for others. That goes against the very nature of protesting.
The fashion world is a space full of eye candy: from the clothes, the stage, and the people themselves. The models carry themselves with such elegance and grace that sometimes they distract you from the garment entirely. But remember, not everyone who walks down the runway is pretty. Sometimes, they’re just naked.
This won’t be the last time we see a PETA stunt like this. Heck, this won’t be the last time we see anyone pull such a bold move. But using excessive force is not the way to go. Just sit down and relax. It’s all part of the show.
