Molly-Mae Hague slammed over PrettyLittleThing collaboration amid ‘modern slavery’ allegations
The Love Island star has worked with PrettyLittleThing on new designs – but the fashion brand’s parent company, Boo Hoo Group, is facing allegations of mistreatment of staff
Video Loading
Click to play
Tap to play
The video will start in 8Cancel
Molly-Mae Hague has been blasted by fans and followers for promoting fashion brand PrettyLittleThing whose parent company Boo Hoo Group has been accused of “modern slavery”.
Fans of the 21-year-old Love Island star expressed anger and dismay on Friday when she took to social media to boast about her work with the troubled fashion company.
Taking to Instagram, Molly-Mae posed on a roof top in Manchester while gloating about being “blessed” to work with the brand.
Wearing a figure hugging pair of trousers, a backless top, and elbow-length gloves, the reality star attempted to whip up excitement over her work with the company.
She gushed: “I’m so blessed to work so closely with a brand that believes in me whole heartedly. Thank you PLT for making my dreams come true everyday. I can’t wait for you all to see the things we have in store.”
However, she was met with anger from some fans who slammed her for working with PrettyLittleThing – who are damaged by reputation of being part of parent company Boo Hoo Group.
Last month, a number of retailers – including Next and ASOS – ceased selling Boo Hoo group brands including PrettyLittleThing, NastyGal and BooHoo following an explosive expose by The Sunday Times which alleged the company was mistreating staff.
Undercover reporters claimed that staff at Jaswal Fashions in Leicester – an alleged supplier to the Boo Hoo group – were paying staff just £3.50 per hour, far below the UK minimum wage of £8.72 per hour for employees over the age of 25.
The report also suggested staff were not supplied with social distancing rules, PPE, or any access to sanitiser in the workplace amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
A foreman at the factory was quoted by the Sunday Times as saying: “These motherf*****s know how to exploit people like us. They make profits like hell and pay us in peanuts.”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock expressed concern last month that the work conditions of clothing factories in Leicester could have contributed to a spike in COVID cases in the city.
While Home Secretary called the report “truly appalling” and added that the government would not tolerate “sick criminals forcing innocent people into slave labour and a life of exploitation.”
Reacting to Molly-Mae’s post, and in light of the allegations against the Boo Hoo Group, many slammed the reality star for her choice of collaboration partner.
One follower blasted in the comments section of the reality star’s Instagram post: “You are promoting an unethical subsidiary of Boohoo. Question who you work for. You are a bright woman.”
Another wrote: “..and because MollyMae has been paid to wear this [checks notes] we are definitely just going to forget that #PrettyLittleThing are modern day slave drivers.. @umarkamani.”
A slightly more sympathetic follower wrote: “It’s just a shame they’re practising modern day slavery @mollymaehague ! But that’s not on you but they should sort their s*** out.”
However this caused another follower to comment: “of course it’s (partly) on her, why is she working with such an awful company Anyone with sense would refuse.”
Boo Hoo Group said in a statement in the wake of the Sunday Times’ report: “Boohoo remains committed to supporting UK manufacturing and is determined to drive up standards where this is required.
“Where help and support for improvement is required we have and will continue to provide it, to ensure that everyone working to produce clothing in Leicester is properly remunerated, at least the National Minimum Wage, fairly treated and safe at work.
“However, we will not hesitate to immediately terminate relationships with any supplier who is found not to be acting within both the letter and spirit of our supplier code of conduct. This includes very clear expectations on transparency about second tier suppliers. “
They also claimed Jaswal Fashions was not a “direct supplier” and they will “investigate how our garments were in their hands”.
MirrorCeleb