Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana have sparked outrage after they criticised gay couples who used artifical insemination to have children.
The founders of the iconic label Dolce & Gabbana made the comments in an interview with Italian magazine Panorama.
“You are born to a mother and father. Or at least that’s how it should be,” Domenico told the publication.
“I call children of chemistry, synthetic children. Rented wombs, semen chosen from a catalogue”.
Stefano Gabbana and Domenico Dolce at Vogue Italia’s 50th anniversary event.
The controversial quote sparked plenty of heated debate online, with many condemning the pair for their views. One of their biggest critics? None other than Elton John, who shared his own response in a passionate Instagram post.
The singer – who has two children born via surrogate mothers with husband David Furnish – slammed the designers for their comments and even called for a boycott of their label.
“How dare you refer to my beautiful children as ‘synthetic’. And shame on you for wagging your judgemental little fingers at IVF – a miracle that has allowed legions of loving people, both straight and gay, to fulfil their dream of having children,” he wrote alongside a photo of the two designers.
“Your archaic thinking is out of step with the times, just like your fashions. I shall never wear Dolce and Gabbana ever again”.
Elton and David with their children Zachary and Elijah
Domenico and Stefano have since backtracked on their original words, releasing a statement saying they never intended to judge others for their choices.
“We do believe in freedom and love,” they told The Guardian.
