Topline
Pop singer Justin Bieber warned fans to steer clear of merchandise featuring his name and image at clothing giant H&M, saying the designs are “trash” and that he did not approve of the line, which the Swedish retailer denied.
Singer Justin Bieber attends Super Bowl LVI between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals … [+]
Key Facts
H&M released a line of merchandise without the singer’s permission, Bieber said on his Instagram story Monday afternoon.
“I wouldn’t buy it if I were you,” Bieber told his 270 million Instagram followers, adding that the pieces were “trash.”
It wasn’t immediately clear which items Bieber was referring to, but on Monday afternoon H&M had images of colorful hoodies and other items listed under the singer’s name, some featuring the phrase “I miss you more than life,” a lyric from his 2021 song “Ghost.”
Contra
An H&M representative dismissed Bieber’s claims in an email to Forbes, saying that the company “followed proper approval procedures” as it does with “all other licensed products and partnerships.”
Big Number
$23.8 billion. That’s how much H&M made in revenue last fiscal year.
Key Background
H&M—which stands for Hennes & Mauritz—is known for its merchandise lines with top pop singers including Ariana Grande and Billie Eilish. The Swedish retailer previously carried items featuring Bieber as far back as 2001. H&M is the second largest international fashion retailer after Intidex, Zara’s parent company. Last month, H&M began to slash its staff in a move that will eventually eliminate 1,500 positions to cut costs after sales fell for a third quarter.
Tangent
In September, Bieber abruptly called off his Justice World Tour over health issues after he was diagnosed with Ramsay-Hunt Syndrome, a rare condition that can cause facial paralysis.
Further
Justin Bieber Calls Off Justice World Tour—Again—Amid Struggle With Ramsay-Hunt Syndrome (Forbes)
H&M Staff Cuts And Other Savings Of Almost $200 Million Fail To Convince Markets (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlieporterfield/2022/12/19/justin-bieber-says-hm-merchandise-released-without-his-permission—warns-fans-not-to-buy-the-trash-clothing/