If you were looking forward to seeing Gigi Hadid walking in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in Shanghai, China this year, prepare to be sorely disappointed. The model just announced that she won’t be walking the highly anticipated fashion show in China in a tweet a few hours ago:
I’m so bummed I won’t be able to make it to China this year. Love my VS family, and will be with all my girls in spirit!! Can't wait to tune in with everyone to see the beautiful show I know it will be, and already can't wait for next year! 🙂 x
— Gigi Hadid (@GiGiHadid) November 16, 2017
It’s unclear why Gigi won’t be walking after 2 years of participating in the show. The news also comes amid reports that four other models were denied visas to travel to China and model in the show on Novmber 20.
On another note, earlier this year, social media users in China expressed that Hadid was not welcome in their country because she once mimicked Buddha’s face in a Snapchat video posted by Bella Hadid. The model apologized in September after being accused of “discrimination.”
On Wednesday, media outlets reported that models aren’t the only ones being denied visas – fashion bloggers are also cancelling their trips, while producers covering the show are anxious over restrictions on shooting inside and out of the city’s Mercedes-Benz Arena.
“These TV companies are spending a fortune on it, and they don’t even know what they can shoot when they get there,” an anonymous source told Page Six. Victoria’s Secret has not released a statement about the drama, though it’s also been said that they’re having trouble sending out press releases as everything needs to be approved by government officials.
The drama surrounding the 2017 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is turning up to be just as intense as Kim Kardashian’s robbery last year, forcing the brand to amp up security and doing background checks on everyone involved in the show.
