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Beyoncé hasn't been shy about being an activist in her music — but the Hollywood hypocrite isn't an activist against unfair labor practices. Fans of the "Lemonade" diva have soured over reports that her activewear line uses sweatshop labor out of Sri Lanka. Activists have gone to the media to claim that the Ivy Park clothing line is put together by young women confined to a boarding house and working for the U.S. equivalent of $6.18 for a day's work. "This is a form of sweat shop slavery," said Jakub Sobik of the advocacy group Anti-Slavery International. "There are a number of elements here that tick the boxes in terms of slavery — the low pay, restriction of women’s movement at night and locking them in!"
Photo credit: Getty Images
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The clothing chain Topshop — which carries Ivy Park — said that the line "has a rigorous ethical trading program." But this isn't Beyoncé's first time being accused of exploiting workers. The diva also got dissed over her work representing the H&M swimwear line in 2013. Reports came out from the Institute for Global Labour and Human Rights that fashions were fashioned under deplorable conditions in Bangladesh. “There was child labor," said institute director Charles Kernaghan — adding: "People were being beaten, cheated of their wages, and wages were very, very low.” H&M denied knowledge of how the garments were produced, and said the corporation hadn't approved the facilities — adding that H&M "strives to conduct its business in a responsible and transparent way, and we take specific exception to the manner in which Mr. Charles Kernaghan has tried to portray us." But as Beyoncé kept pushing the product, she joined other disgraced figures in the Celebrity Sweat Shop Hall of Shame...
Photo credit: Splash News
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KATHIE LEE GIFFORD: The cheery morning host became the target of brutal attacks when the National Labor Committee condemned her in 1996. The human rights group reported that the Kathie Lee fashion line — sold exclusively at Wal-Mart — was being stitched together by foreign labor earning 60 cents an hour while working in miserable conditions. New York’s Attorney General Dennis Vacco said that Kathie Lee was profiting from factory conditions "out of a Charles Dickens novel!" Kathie Lee later called the experience "a unique opportunity to...stop the horrible practices of some of these manufacturers."
Photo credit: Getty Images
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DAISY FUENTES: She was a pioneering figure as a Latina television personality, but Daisy was soon shamed when she tried to cash in with her on fashion line. The clothing chain Kohl's frantically took some of her designs out of their stores after charges in 2007 that her fashions were produced in a Guatemalan sweatshop. The workers were reportedly treated poorly and never allowed overtime pay. The store released an official statement: "Under no circumstances were Kohl's or Daisy Fuentes involved or consulted in the selection or approval of this factory."
Photo credit: Splash News
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JENNIFER LOVE HEWITT: The small-screen star was the official face of Hanes when the company was caught up in a sweatshop scandal. Jennifer didn't back down from the controversy, though, and never made a public statement about any personal concerns. There was even a shaming campaign on the internet called “Jennifer Loves Sweatshops." Hanes came to the defense of their beautiful spokesmodel, saying that activists were “trying to pick fights with celebrities.”
Photo credit: Getty Images
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VICTORIA'S SECRET ANGELS (2008): The lingerie chain's top models kept quiet in 2008 after publications reported that the notorious international outfit D.K. Garments was hired to produce the expensive garments. Claims were made that employees of the D.K. factory in Jordan were "slapped and beaten, not paid their full overtime pay, and labored from 7 a.m. to as late as 10 p.m., seven days a week — with one day off every three or four months."
Photo credit: Getty Images
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KATHY IRELAND: The hot "Sport Illustrated" swimsuit model made headlines in 1996 with a story that proved sweatshops could even exist in America! The "New York Times" reported that production of Kathy's clothing line — sold exclusively in Kmart — was briefly shut down after investigators raided a Brooklyn garment factory. Shocked authorities allegedly found numerous fire safety code violations — including locked exit doors, obstructed aisles and sprinkler violations. A look in the accounting office also showed that the employees were being paid below the minimum wage. A spokesperson for Kmart said that Kathy would fully cooperate in any investigation, adding that the company "had worked to avoid such situations."
Photo credit: Getty Images
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SELENA GOMEZ: Selena is the proud face of Adidas footwear, but found herself shamed while promoting the company during New York Fashion Week in 2013. An advocacy group called United Students Against Sweatshops protested outside one of her appearances with a banner that said: “Selena: Don’t be an ambassador for sweatshops.” The group claimed that Adidas was refusing to pay $1.8 million in owed severance to thousands of workers in Indonesia. Representatives for Selena claimed that the group had brought up “old allegations” that they had been reassured were addressed and handled properly by Adidas.
Photo credit: Splash News
Beyoncé hasn't been shy about being an activist in her music — but the Hollywood hypocrite isn't an activist against unfair labor practices. Fans of the "Lemonade" diva have soured over reports that her activewear line uses sweatshop labor out of Sri Lanka. Activists have gone to the media to claim that the Ivy Park clothing line is put together by young women confined to a boarding house and working for the U.S. equivalent of $6.18 for a day's work. "This is a form of sweat shop slavery," said Jakub Sobik of the advocacy group Anti-Slavery International. "There are a number of elements here that tick the boxes in terms of slavery — the low pay, restriction of women’s movement at night and locking them in!"
Photo credit: Getty Images
The clothing chain Topshop — which carries Ivy Park — said that the line "has a rigorous ethical trading program." But this isn't Beyoncé's first time being accused of exploiting workers. The diva also got dissed over her work representing the H&M swimwear line in 2013. Reports came out from the Institute for Global Labour and Human Rights that fashions were fashioned under deplorable conditions in Bangladesh. “There was child labor," said institute director Charles Kernaghan — adding: "People were being beaten, cheated of their wages, and wages were very, very low.” H&M denied knowledge of how the garments were produced, and said the corporation hadn't approved the facilities — adding that H&M "strives to conduct its business in a responsible and transparent way, and we take specific exception to the manner in which Mr. Charles Kernaghan has tried to portray us." But as Beyoncé kept pushing the product, she joined other disgraced figures in the Celebrity Sweat Shop Hall of Shame...
Photo credit: Splash News
KATHIE LEE GIFFORD: The cheery morning host became the target of brutal attacks when the National Labor Committee condemned her in 1996. The human rights group reported that the Kathie Lee fashion line — sold exclusively at Wal-Mart — was being stitched together by foreign labor earning 60 cents an hour while working in miserable conditions. New York’s Attorney General Dennis Vacco said that Kathie Lee was profiting from factory conditions "out of a Charles Dickens novel!" Kathie Lee later called the experience "a unique opportunity to...stop the horrible practices of some of these manufacturers."
Photo credit: Getty Images
DAISY FUENTES: She was a pioneering figure as a Latina television personality, but Daisy was soon shamed when she tried to cash in with her on fashion line. The clothing chain Kohl's frantically took some of her designs out of their stores after charges in 2007 that her fashions were produced in a Guatemalan sweatshop. The workers were reportedly treated poorly and never allowed overtime pay. The store released an official statement: "Under no circumstances were Kohl's or Daisy Fuentes involved or consulted in the selection or approval of this factory."
Photo credit: Splash News
JENNIFER LOVE HEWITT: The small-screen star was the official face of Hanes when the company was caught up in a sweatshop scandal. Jennifer didn't back down from the controversy, though, and never made a public statement about any personal concerns. There was even a shaming campaign on the internet called “Jennifer Loves Sweatshops." Hanes came to the defense of their beautiful spokesmodel, saying that activists were “trying to pick fights with celebrities.”
Photo credit: Getty Images
VICTORIA'S SECRET ANGELS (2008): The lingerie chain's top models kept quiet in 2008 after publications reported that the notorious international outfit D.K. Garments was hired to produce the expensive garments. Claims were made that employees of the D.K. factory in Jordan were "slapped and beaten, not paid their full overtime pay, and labored from 7 a.m. to as late as 10 p.m., seven days a week — with one day off every three or four months."
Photo credit: Getty Images
KATHY IRELAND: The hot "Sport Illustrated" swimsuit model made headlines in 1996 with a story that proved sweatshops could even exist in America! The "New York Times" reported that production of Kathy's clothing line — sold exclusively in Kmart — was briefly shut down after investigators raided a Brooklyn garment factory. Shocked authorities allegedly found numerous fire safety code violations — including locked exit doors, obstructed aisles and sprinkler violations. A look in the accounting office also showed that the employees were being paid below the minimum wage. A spokesperson for Kmart said that Kathy would fully cooperate in any investigation, adding that the company "had worked to avoid such situations."
Photo credit: Getty Images
SELENA GOMEZ: Selena is the proud face of Adidas footwear, but found herself shamed while promoting the company during New York Fashion Week in 2013. An advocacy group called United Students Against Sweatshops protested outside one of her appearances with a banner that said: “Selena: Don’t be an ambassador for sweatshops.” The group claimed that Adidas was refusing to pay $1.8 million in owed severance to thousands of workers in Indonesia. Representatives for Selena claimed that the group had brought up “old allegations” that they had been reassured were addressed and handled properly by Adidas.
Photo credit: Splash News