*A Black-owned skincare brand said influencers on a recent trip to France experienced racism and Islamophobia at a spa in the French Alps.
The skincare company Topicals said 20 “Black and Brown” creators from the UK and US were discriminated against and harassed at QC Terme Spa, Business Insider reports. One of the influencers, Nella Rose, said staff singled out the two Muslim creators for wearing modest swimwear.
On X/Twitter, Topicals said the group “experienced discrimination, harassment, and were threatened to have law enforcement called on.”
The company wrote in a March 31 post, “This past weekend, we hosted our third brand trip in Megève, France with a group of Black and Brown creators from the UK and US. At one of the establishments on our itinerary, we experienced discrimination, harassment, and were threatened to have law enforcement called on us.”
In a follow-up tweet, Topicals wrote, “Experiencing racism and Islamophobia in this magnitude as a group of Black and Brown creators was horrific to say the least. Nonetheless, our guests and team are good. And in true Topicals fashion, we took our business elsewhere — quick, fast, and in a hurry”.
This past weekend, we hosted our third brand trip in Megève, France with a group of Black and Brown creators from the UK and US.
At one of the establishments on our itinerary, we experienced discrimination, harassment, and were threatened to have law enforcement called on us.
— TOPICALS (@topicals) April 1, 2024
“As a Black-owned brand, we will not allow this to stop us. We will continue to place Black and Brown creators at the forefront of our branded experiences. Discrimination cannot and will not stop us,” the thread continued.
Nella Rose revealed on Instagram that staff barred them from the pool area because the two Muslim women were wearing Modest swimsuits known as burkinis. The women were directed to a gift shop selling bikinis. Later, employees further confronted the group, citing discomfort among spa attendees.
@nellarose We had a timeeeee at the french Alps baby @TOPICALS ♬ original sound – Nella Rose
Rose posted a TikTok recap of the trip, showing the group departing the spa amidst apparent arguments with the staff.
“This is them calling the police on us,” Rose said in her video.
Topicals said it will donate “$10,000 USD to French Muslim and Black organizations to help build local power and joy within marginalized communities.”
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