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.”
Broadway World Best Female Vocalist and Bistro Award winner Quinn Lemley is back on the New York stage with her critically acclaimed show Rita Hayworth: The Heat Is On! — a bold, glamorous celebration of Hollywood’s original Love Goddess. Written and directed by Carter Inskeep, the show continues its record-release residency at The Triad Theater, honoring Lemley’s album Rita Hayworth Revealed, a Grammy® consideration and 2025 Josie Award nominee.
With sharp wit, emotional depth, and serious heat, Lemley doesn’t impersonate Rita — she channels her. Across 20 classic songs, she peels back the myth to reveal the real woman behind the icon: resilient, sensual, complicated, and fiercely human. From Gilda to headline-making romances with Orson Welles, Prince Aly Khan, and Howard Hughes, the show moves like a cinematic confession set to big band swing and smoky ballads.
Critics haven’t been subtle. The New York Times calls her “dazzling.” Cabaret Scenes says “sensual and spellbinding.” The New York Post nails it best: “You don’t even have to squint to see that Rita’s in the room.”
Venue: The Triad Theater, 158 West 72nd Street, New York City Tickets: $25–$50 | $25 food & beverage minimum Tickets available at www.TriadNYC.com or www.QuinnLemley.com/rita
On Television: Secrets of the Stage Beyond the cabaret spotlight, Lemley also brings her storytelling instincts to the screen on Secrets of the Stage, a television series that pulls back the curtain on the real lives of performers. The show explores what happens before the lights come up and after the applause fades — the pressure, the craft, the vulnerability, and the drive that fuel live performance. It’s an unfiltered look at artistry from the inside out, and Lemley fits right in: fearless, polished, and never phoning it in.
If you want glamour with substance — and a little danger — this one’s still burning hot.
