Italian Fashion Billionaire Brunello Cucinelli Faces Misconduct Allegations in China

OPA WIRE, Nov 4 (OPA) — The incident involved Chinese actress Liu Tao at the Shanghai promotional event for the biographical docudrama film, 'Brunello: The Gracious Visionary'. Footage shows the 73-year-old fashion house founder holding the inside of Ms. Tao's arm before pulling her closer and pressing his hand across and into her chest while directing her toward photographers. Chinese media reports indicated that the 48-year-old actress maintained a professional smile, but her body language and subsequent facial expressions suggested visible discomfort and an attempt to maintain physical distance.

Additional footage from the same event revealed further scrutiny regarding interactions with Chinese actress Chen Duling, whom Mr. Cucinelli allegedly grabbed by the arm, placed his arm around her waist, and touched under the pretext of adjusting her dress hem. State-run Chinese outlet The Paper published an editorial lambasting the billionaire's actions, stating that cultural differences must not serve as a shield for allegations of sexual harassment. The publication emphasized that basic ethical standards apply regardless of social status.

The controversy has resurfaced past viral incidents involving the Italian designer, widely known as the 'King of Cashmere' with an estimated net worth of $3.3 billion. In September, he faced criticism for placing his arm close to the waist of South Korean actress and brand ambassador Kim You-jung during an event. Similarly, in February during Milan Fashion Week, footage captured him holding the arm of Chinese American freestyle skier Eileen Gu and lifting her hand into the air before she quickly released her grip.

Local media outlets, including Hong Kong 01, condemned the behavior as an explicit violation of standard social etiquette. Mr. Cucinelli, who dropped out of engineering school and launched his luxury cashmere brand in 1978 with a $550 loan, has been contacted for comment regarding the allegations. Representatives for the designer have not yet issued a formal response to the unfolding international criticism.