'Chanel Bag Cut with Scissors'... Russian Customer Sales Halted, Celebrities Protest

Chanel Faces Backlash from Russian Celebrities Saying "Chanel is Rude" After Halting Sales to Russian Customers

Russian broadcaster Marina Ermoskina is cutting a Chanel bag with gardening scissors in protest against Chanel's decision to stop selling products to Russians. / Photo by Ermoskina Instagram capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Ju-hee] French luxury brand Chanel has announced that it will not sell its products to Russians, prompting Russian influencers to post videos on social media cutting Chanel bags they purchased with scissors in protest.

According to foreign media reports including the New York Times (NYT) on the 10th (local time), Chanel closed its stores in Russia in compliance with European Union (EU) sanctions banning the sale of products over 300 euros (about 400,000 KRW) in Russia. Additionally, foreign stores require Russian customers to sign a pledge stating they will not wear Chanel products in Russia.

Russian broadcaster and influencer Marina Ermoskina posted a video on her Instagram on the 5th showing her cutting a Chanel bag with scissors. In a phone interview with the NYT, Ermoskina said, "Chanel staff in Dubai asked me to sign a document proving I would not wear the bag in Russia," adding, "This is Russophobia and the purest form of discrimination."

Russian model Viktoria Bonya posted a video on Instagram cutting a Chanel bag with scissors. Photo by Viktoria Bonya Instagram capture.

Russian model Viktoria Bonya also joined the Chanel boycott. On the 8th, Bonya posted a video on Instagram cutting a Chanel handbag with scissors, expressing her displeasure by saying, "Chanel does not respect its customers, so why should we respect Chanel?" She also wrote, "I have never seen a brand behave so rudely toward its customers."

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Chanel, like many other companies, suspended its business operations in Russia. In response to the boycott movement by some Russian celebrities, Chanel issued a statement saying it was complying with EU sanctions banning the sale of luxury goods over 300 euros to Russians.

Meanwhile, the protests by Russian influencers have instead become targets of criticism online. Netizens responded with comments such as, "Isn't it time to talk about the people suffering in Ukraine rather than the bags?" and "What is the point of cutting bags that were already purchased?"

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.