The Weeknd has ended his partnership with H&M over an advertisement labeled by many as racially insensitive.The retailer sparked backlash after depicting a black child model in a sweatshirt that read “Coolest Monkey in the Jungle,” prompting the hip-hop artist to release a statement of his own condemning H&M’s choice.
“woke up this morning shocked and embarrassed by this photo,” The Weeknd tweeted. “i’m deeply offended and will not be working with @hm anymore…”
In a statement obtained by E! News, H&M Media Relations apologized for the advertisement as well as the product: “We understand that many people are upset about the image. We, who work at H&M, can only agree. We are deeply sorry that the picture was taken, and we also regret the actual print. Therefore, we have not only removed the image from our channels, but also the garment from our product offering globally.”
woke up this morning shocked and embarrassed by this photo. i’m deeply offended and will not be working with @hmanymore…
“It is obvious that our routines have not been followed properly,” H&M concluded. “This is without any doubt. We will thoroughly investigate why this happened to prevent this type of mistake from happening again.”As of now, the sweater is still available online but the photo of the model has been removed.
The Weeknd worked with H&M on two different collaborations, and his latest clothing collection was released last September. It’s currently unclear if and when the recording artist’s products will be removed from H&M stores.
Other celebrities that have commented on H&M’s advertisement include Questlove and Sean “Diddy” Combs.”I’m sure the apologies are a coming,” Questlove, who performs with The Roots, wrote on Instagram. “And the ads will be pulled. I’m certain there will Be media fixers and whatnot and maybe a grand gesture like a donation to some charity (donations under these circumstances are the corporate version #SomeOfMyBestFriendsAre move if there ever was one) all this tells me about @HM is that the seats in the boardroom lack something…wanna take a guess?”
Diddy shared a reimagined version of the sweater that read “Coolest King in the World,” adding, “Put some respect on it!! When you look at us make sure you see royalty and super natural God sent glory!! Anything else is disrespectful.”
Genre-blending singer/songwriter Aro Rose has officially dropped her highly anticipated new single, “Live Without You,” and it’s now streaming everywhere music lives.
A hauntingly honest track about love, loss, and letting go, “Live Without You” showcases Aro’s signature dark pop aesthetic—think cinematic piano lines, ghostly synths, and lyrics that hit where it hurts. It’s raw. It’s vulnerable. It’s that 3AM track you cry to…and then play again.
“I wrote this one straight from my gut,” Aro says. “It’s about that moment when you realize you’ve outgrown someone you thought you couldn’t live without. There’s sadness in it—but also strength.”
Self-taught and self-made, Aro Rose first turned heads with her distinctive sound that sits somewhere between Lana Del Rey’s noir romanticism and Fiona Apple’s emotional honesty. Since stepping away from the major label system, she’s carved out a fiercely independent path—and “Live Without You” is her boldest, most personal release to date.
The single is produced by longtime collaborators Gabriel Maciocia and Robert Federici, who help bring Aro’s dark visions to life with lush, atmospheric production that lets her voice shine through the shadows.
“Live Without You” is available now on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube, and all major streaming platforms.
