Australian lingerie company Honey Birdette has defended itself after being hit with homophobic and transphobic slurs for using a non-binary person to advertise a bra.
The brand posted two photos Instagram of Jake Dupree wearing his $460 Ruby Red three-piece set, which includes a bra, G-string, and suspenders.
Honey Birdette said the response to using Los Angeles-based burlesque dancer Dupree was “bullying.”
The photos, taken by fashion photographer Max Bronner, show Dupree onstage wearing underwear and a body chain.
But soon after the photos were posted online, there were so many negative comments that Honey Birdette blocked the comments.
Australian lingerie company Honey Birdette has defended itself after being hit with homophobic and transphobic slurs for using non-binary person Jake Dupree (pictured) to advertise a bra
“Honey Birdette promotes an inclusive and diverse environment, and we will continue to use our voice to empower and support the LGBTQ+ community, women and anyone who wants to feel fabulous in our lingerie,” the company wrote.
While thoughtful and constructive discussions are important to moving culture forward, hate speech and bullying are not tolerated on our channels.
Comments of this negative nature will be removed. @jakedupree you are so talented and have our full support!’
Dupree also spoke out, saying the comments were “hard” for him to watch.
He also thanked Honey Birdette, which was founded in Sydney in 2006, for “standing up against this hate.”
Honey Birdette said the backlash to using Los Angeles-based burlesque dancer Dupree was “bullying” (photo has a comment)
Honey Birdette is better known for using female models (pictured) to advertise underwear
Some of those who posted under Dupree’s images said they would boycott the brand because it harked back to creator Eloise Monaghan’s “for women, by women” ethos.
But others defended the company for using the photos, telling Dupree to “keep your head up.”
Some wrote that they found the photos inspiring, while another wrote “I can’t believe some cis women feel so insecure when they see a beautiful non-binary person.”
The complaints about Honey Birdette come a month after another Aussie brand, Seafolly, faced a similar backlash.
Seafolly, one of Australia’s most celebrated swimwear brands, was the subject of a boycott after hiring a bearded, non-binary activist as its new ambassador.
The iconic bikini label is known for glamorous advertising campaigns featuring some of the world’s most beautiful women, such as Gigi Hadid, Shanina Shaik, Lara Worthington, Miranda Kerr and Jesinta Franklin.
Non-binary activist Deni Todorovič (pictured) has been announced as the new ambassador for Australian swimwear brand Seafolly
But it has sparked anger in some quarters by hiring stylist Deni Todorovič as an ambassador.
Todorovič was assigned male at birth, but uses she/they pronouns and identifies as non-binary and transgender.
Author and artist Alexandra Marshall said it feels like the fashion brand is “mocking women,” adding that she would “never” buy Seafolly swimsuits again.
Bye @seafolly. Never again. Have been buying swimwear from you for many years. Never again,” she wrote on Twitter.
Another said the brand “deserves to be canceled by real women.”
A third commented, ‘Boycott boycott boycott @seafolly erasing women is NOT OK! Push your products away. I’m ready!’
‘WTF @seafolly? Shame on you for mocking women,” a fourth added.
Australian models Jesinta Franklin and Lara Worthington have also represented the brand
Another stated, “After years of shopping at @seafolly swimwear, I’m looking for another company to donate my business to.”
Others were angry not only at the announcement, but also on the eve of International Women’s Day, March 8.
“Seriously who gave this the go-ahead for #IWD,” said one person.
‘Look now they really just take the p***. I will never buy this brand again and throw away the pair I have.’