Lebanese Designer Johnny Farah Apologizes for Controversial Exhibit Invite

As part of Beirut Design Week, Designer Johnny Farah and Artist Joe Kesrouani are set to host a photography exhibition on June 28 to showcase photos taken during last year’s event, the Interactive Bag [TALKS].

But the exhibition sparked serious controversy on Tuesday when Tweeps started sharing the event invitation online [see photo above], referring to it as an advertisement, and calling for a boycott of Farah’s store. The photo on the invitation is one of the photographs that will be on display at the exhibit.

@HalaMoubarak @BeirutiBrit @beirutdriveby @ritakml @nmoawad Let’s start tweeting calling for a boycott #BoycottJohnnyFarah

— Mokdad No. 1 (@MokdadNo1) June 18, 2013

this is outrageous! RT @Beirutspring: This could well be the world’s most outrageous ad http://t.co/YGfzMxHaSC #misogyny #GBV #VAW #Sexism

— ABAAD MENA (@AbaadMENA) June 18, 2013

Absolutely repulsive. Misogyny in advertising for Johnny Farah Belts – http://t.co/Fsz39v4TvH #Lebanon #Misogyny

— Malak (@malakyz) June 18, 2013

Rebecca Carnell, marketing coordinator for Johnny Farah, tells Beirut.com “the photograph is not an ad, but was taken as part of a photography event where the people in the picture were able to choose their own poses.”

The questionable picture shows a man’s torso and face covered in belts as he strangles a woman with a belt around her neck. The woman is posing, hands wide open, with a bag covering her entire head. In the description posted on