Cosmetic brand Ulta Beauty issues apology over insensitive Kate Spade remark
3 min read
Ulta Beauty has apologized to customers after a promotional email for luxury brand Kate Spade was sent out in an unacceptable manner. The former sent out an email to its subscribers on Sunday promoting Kate Spade New York’s Sparkle fragrance. Several receivers, however, took issue with the email, pointing out that Ulta Beauty alluded to the terrible demise of the company’s co-founder.
The email also included a list of beauty products for sale.
The company’s reference to Kate Spade’s death sparked outrage among internet users. In 2018, the company’s co-founder committed suicide by hanging herself. A message was discovered at her Park Avenue apartment in New York City. At the time of his death, the designer was 55 years old.
Ulta Beauty has apologized for making an offensive remark about Kate Spade
The company sent out another email apologizing for its previous remark. On Monday, the beauty behemoth sent a statement to The Washington Post, which read:
“Ulta Beauty recently sent an email with an offensive subject line containing Kate Spade New York scent, and we truly regret.”
Several internet users were outraged that the corporation had failed to account for the death of one of its co-founders. Many people, predictably, thought the email disrespectful. The Ulta/Kate Spade email explains why it’s crucial to have culturally relevant people on your marketing teams.
The Ulta/Kate Spade email is why it's important to have cultural relevant persons on your marketing teams. *cringes*
— Jasmine Gibson (@strategistjas) May 2, 2022
One user wrote Whoever wrote the incredibly crass email headline at Ulta for the Kate Spade event yesterday also managed to do it on the first day of Mental Health Awareness Month.
Whoever wrote the incredibly crass email headline at Ulta for the Kate Spade event yesterday also managed to do it on the first day of Mental Health Awareness Month. An ignominious start by demonstrating the carelessness people tend to have around this topic.
— Official Tyler Seguin Nipple Bully (@9thgradecommie) May 2, 2022
Another user said, @ultabeauty @katespade Ulta, you might need to speak to your marketing staff.
Kate Spade was a premium brand launched in the early 1990s by the designer and her husband, Andy Spade. The two invested their own money in the debut of their preppy and colorful handbags. These have since become wardrobe staples for all fashionistas.
They had been hustling together at trade exhibits for years before stores like Barneys and Saks agreed to stock them in their stores. To add to the brand’s enormous success, it managed to become a customer favorite without the help of celebrity endorsements. These are increasingly important for luxury goods these days.
At the time of publication, Kate Spade had not responded to Ulta Beauty’s email gaffe.
ULTA is wrong for this…. Kate Spade literally died from hanging herself… 😭 pic.twitter.com/q6RS4W5Y21
— J (@j3477217982) May 2, 2022
sorry i really doubt someone who writes up emails for ulta was like "i know how kate spade killed herself and i'm gonna make a joke about it in a promotional email" like i know some people are that cruel but i think y'all just tend to believe the worst
— nat 💗💜💙 (@sevendotmp3) May 2, 2022
Ankita Khanrah
Ankita Khanrah is a second-year student of the Master of Communication and Journalism (Integrated) programme at the School of Mass Communication, KIIT Deemed University, Bhubaneswar.
