The Benetton Group said Thursday
that it was breaking off ties with Oliviero Toscani after the
star photographer caused an outcry by saying "who cares" in
relation to the 2018 Morandi-bridge collapse that claimed 43
lives.
Toscani, who has long collaborated with Benetton and worked
on several controversial ad campaigns that helped the clothing
company become a big worldwide brand, has apologised and said
his words were misinterpreted.
"In disassociating itself in the most absolute way from the
comments by Oliviero Toscani about the Ponte Morandi, the
Benetton Group, with its President Luciano Benetton,
acknowledges that it is impossible to continue the relationship
of collaboration with the creative director," a statement said.
The well-known photographer made the explosive remarks during
a RAI radio program to comment on a controversy sparked by a
photograph portraying the founders of the Sardines anti-populism
grassroots movement together with him and Luciano Benetton,
whose family controls Autostrade per l'Italia.
The company has been accused of being responsible for the
collapse of the Morandi bridge because it allegedly failed to
take the necessary action to prevent the disaster in August
2018.
"I'm sorry that confused, extrapolated words can make people
think something crazy like me not being interested in the bridge
(disaster) at all," Toscani said via Twitter on Wednesday.
"Like everyone, I am interested in and indignant about that
tragedy, but it is absurd that some journalists ask me for
explanations".
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