Born in Germany · Nationality German — Fashion / Haute couture

Karl Lagerfeld

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German fashion designer and photographer (1933–2019), creative director at Chanel and Fendi.

An influential Chanel creative director, Karl Lagerfeld attracted criticism for comments on model body sizes, celebrities, migration and the #MeToo movement. His remarks and photographs became public controversies, with no personal criminal conviction identified in this dossier. A 2023 posthumous tribute revived debate over his legacy.

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Profile No. 5811 · Updated on 28 October 2026

10Documented controversies+ 3 background events

22Sources

0Formal charge · all time

0Conviction

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

April 2018

Criticism of #MeToo and delayed reports of abuse

No legal proceedings

In a Numéro interview, Lagerfeld said he was fed up with #MeToo and cast doubt on allegations disclosed years after the events. He also criticised new safeguards protecting models during shoots.

State of the evidence: Documented event or statement; no personal criminal offence is thereby established.
Legal status — source text: No known personal criminal ruling on this matter.
Attribution: Public statements challenging a movement reporting sexual misconduct.

Sources · 2

[1]
Business Standard / PTIKarl Lagerfeld “fed up” with #MeToo movement14 April 2018News agencyHigh reliability
[2]
E! NewsKarl Lagerfeld Slams Models Who Complain About Groping14 April 2018MediaHigh reliability

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April 2018

Defence of Karl Templer amid harassment allegations

No legal proceedings

In the same interview, Lagerfeld said he did not believe allegations against stylist Karl Templer and downplayed concerns about unwanted touching in modelling. The criticism concerned Lagerfeld’s remarks, not an assault attributed to him.

State of the evidence: Designer’s statements traced to his 2018 interview.
Legal status — source text: No known personal criminal ruling on this matter.
Attribution: Public defence of an accused stylist and statements downplaying complaints.

Sources · 2

[1]
Business Standard / PTIKarl Lagerfeld “fed up” with #MeToo movement14 April 2018News agencyHigh reliability
[2]
E! NewsKarl Lagerfeld Slams Models Who Complain About Groping14 April 2018MediaHigh reliability

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November 2017

Remarks linking the Holocaust to German refugee policy

No legal proceedings

On French television, Lagerfeld criticised Angela Merkel and broadly portrayed Muslim refugees as enemies of Jews. The French broadcast regulator received several hundred complaints from viewers.

State of the evidence: Televised comments reported by multiple outlets and viewer complaints confirmed.
Legal status — source text: Complaints submitted to broadcasting regulator; no personal sanction verified.
Attribution: Public statements or decisions within this individual’s responsibilities.

Sources · 2

[1]
The Guardian / AFPKarl Lagerfeld sparks outrage over migrant Holocaust comments13 November 2017News agencyHigh reliability
[2]
Ouest-FranceMigrants, holocauste : le dérapage de Karl Lagerfeld13 November 2017MediaHigh reliability

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February 2012

Remark about singer Adele’s weight

No legal proceedings

In a Metro interview, Lagerfeld described singer Adele as too fat while praising her voice. His unsolicited assessment of her appearance drew criticism and was followed by an apology.

State of the evidence: Documented event or statement; no personal criminal offence is thereby established.
Legal status — source text: No known personal criminal ruling on this matter.
Attribution: Public statements or decisions within this individual’s responsibilities.

Sources · 2

[1]
CBS NewsKarl Lagerfeld says Adele is “a little too fat”8 February 2012MediaHigh reliability
[2]
The GuardianKarl Lagerfeld says Adele is a little too fat8 February 2012MediaHigh reliability

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August 2012

Reported derogatory remark about Pippa Middleton’s appearance

Allegations

British outlets reported that Lagerfeld had made disparaging remarks about Pippa Middleton’s face. Vogue repeated a quote attributed to the Sun, while a fashion outlet noted that the original interview and circumstances were not verifiable.

State of the evidence: Second-hand reported remark, not authenticated against the original source.
Legal status — source text: No known personal criminal ruling on this matter.
Attribution: Reported insult, subject to attribution uncertainty.

Sources · 2

[1]
British VogueWhy Karl Lagerfeld Isn’t A Pippa Fan1 August 2012MediaHigh reliability
[2]
FashionistaKarl Lagerfeld Maybe Called Pippa Middleton a Butterface10 April 2014MediaHigh reliability

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October 2012

Reported insult of François Hollande over tax policy

Allegations

Press reports claimed Lagerfeld called President François Hollande an idiot while criticising tax policy. The episode generated debate, though the precise wording and context remained disputed.

State of the evidence: Press-attributed quote whose original context has not been confirmed.
Legal status — source text: No known personal criminal ruling on this matter.
Attribution: Public criticism attributed to the designer.

Sources · 4

[1]
GlamourKarl Lagerfeld Strikes Again! Did He Really Call the French President an Idiot?22 October 2012MediaHigh reliability
[2]
TIMEWhy the Met Gala’s Karl Lagerfeld Theme Is ControversialMediaHigh reliability
[3]
British VogueKarl Lagerfeld Denies Calling François Hollande An Imbecile22 October 2012MediaHigh reliability
[4]
Le ParisienLagerfeld dément avoir traité Hollande d’« imbécile »21 October 2012MediaHigh reliability

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2007–2010

Claudia Schiffer blackface and yellowface photographs

No legal proceedings

Photographs of Claudia Schiffer taken by Lagerfeld and published in Stern Fotografie depicted her using stereotyped racial makeup. Their publication in 2010 drew criticism for racial insensitivity.

State of the evidence: Documented event or statement; no personal criminal offence is thereby established.
Legal status — source text: No known personal criminal ruling on this matter.
Attribution: Public statements or decisions within this individual’s responsibilities.

Sources · 2

[1]
CNNCNN.com - Transcripts, Showbiz Tonight, 10 June 201010 June 2010MediaHigh reliability
[2]
CBS NewsKarl Lagerfeld and the Met Gala: The controversy behind the theme explainedMediaHigh reliability

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October 2009

Dismissal of plus-size models during the Brigitte magazine debate

No legal proceedings

When German magazine Brigitte announced it would feature everyday women, Lagerfeld said no one wanted to see curvy women modelling. His disparaging comments about overweight women attracted public criticism.

State of the evidence: Documented event or statement; no personal criminal offence is thereby established.
Legal status — source text: No known personal criminal ruling on this matter.
Attribution: Public statements or decisions within this individual’s responsibilities.

Sources · 2

[1]
FOCUS online„Runde Frauen will da niemand sehen“: Karl Lagerfeld11 October 2009MediaHigh reliability
[2]
The GuardianKarl Lagerfeld says only ‘fat mummies’ object to thin models12 October 2009MediaHigh reliability

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January 2009

Defence of fur criticised by animal welfare campaigners

No legal proceedings

Karl Lagerfeld publicly defended the use of animal fur in fashion and dismissed criticism of the trade. Animal rights organisation PETA condemned his statements and challenged his account of how fur was produced.

State of the evidence: His statements and PETA’s response were reported in the contemporary press.
Legal status — source text: Public animal welfare controversy; no personal proceedings established.
Attribution: Public statements defending the use of animal fur in fashion.

Sources · 1

[1]
Los Angeles TimesDesigner Karl Lagerfeld defends his use of fur5 January 2009MediaHigh reliability

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January 1994

Chanel dresses bearing Quranic verses and apologies in 1994

No legal proceedings

At Chanel’s January 1994 haute couture show, Karl Lagerfeld had Claudia Schiffer model a dress bearing verses from the Quran. Indonesian religious leaders called for a boycott, objecting to the use of sacred text on clothing. Chanel withdrew and destroyed the affected designs.

State of the evidence: The presentation, protests, apology and withdrawal of the designs are reported in contemporary press coverage.
Legal status — source text: Fashion and religious controversy; no personal criminal conviction established.
Attribution: Use of religious text in a Chanel design under his creative direction.

Sources · 2

[1]
Le MondeMODE Le couturier Karl Lagerfeld provoque la colère des musulmans indonésiens22 January 1994MediaHigh reliability
[2]
The IndependentChanel apologises to Muslims for “Satanic Breasts” dress23 January 1994MediaHigh reliability

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II. Documented background

Documented biographical or institutional milestones (elections, appointments, foundings, acquisitions…). These are not controversies and are not counted as such.

2019–2023
Death and subsequent debate over the Met Gala tribute
Lagerfeld died in February 2019. In 2023, a Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibition and Met Gala tribute triggered criticism of his earlier statements, but these were not actions taken by him after death.
Sources · 2
1. TIME — Why the Met Gala’s Karl Lagerfeld Theme Is Controversial
2. The Washington Post — The Met Gala’s Karl Lagerfeld theme draws concern on his legacy, controversy
January 2013
Public objection to assisted reproduction for same-sex couples
At a Chanel show featuring two brides, Lagerfeld endorsed same-sex marriage but opposed assisted reproduction for male couples. He thereby entered a divisive public policy debate.
Sources · 2
1. Associated Press / KSL — Lagerfeld supports gay marriage in lesbian couture
2. British Vogue — Karl Lagerfeld Shows Catwalk Support For Gay Marriage
1950–1983
Fashion career and appointment at Chanel
Lagerfeld worked for several European fashion houses before becoming Chanel’s creative director in the early 1980s. He also developed work for Fendi and his own label.
Sources · 2
1. CBS News — Karl Lagerfeld and the Met Gala: The controversy behind the theme explained
2. TIME — Why the Met Gala’s Karl Lagerfeld Theme Is Controversial

III. Constellation of documented links

No documented link with another published profile for now.

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

IV. Has something changed?

A new court decision, a missing source, a mistake? Tell us what should be updated: every request is read by the editorial team.

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I. Documented controversies

Sources · 2

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Sources · 4

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Sources · 1

Sources · 2

II. Documented background

Death and subsequent debate over the Met Gala tribute

Public objection to assisted reproduction for same-sex couples

Fashion career and appointment at Chanel

III. Constellation of documented links

IV. Has something changed?

Support the archive