A hoodie from the streetwear brand Supreme featuring Mike Tyson encircled by a collection of national flags was pulled from stores this week after social media users noticed the Palestinian flag in the graphic.
The piece was originally announced as part
of a collection made in collaboration with designer Martine Rose. The Palestinian flag’s inclusion drew attention when the collaboration was unveiled Monday and streetwear blogs highlighted the design reference for the hoodie — a vintage Mike Tyson graphic which included the Israeli flag as opposed to the Palestinian flag. Not long after, images of the hoodie were reportedly removed from Supreme’s promotional materials ahead of the release. The item is currently not listed for sale in this week’s drop.
As news of the withdrawal circulated online, many speculated that Tyson’s representatives asked Supreme to remove the garment because of the inclusion of the Palestinian flag, which replaced an Israeli flag in the vintage design that inspired the hoodie.
In a statement to Rolling Stone, Tyson’s legal team Mitchell Schuster of Meister Seelig & Schuster says, “Mike Tyson collaborated with Supreme and Martine Rose on a collection honoring his boxing legacy. His team approved artwork inspired by his iconic Jeff Hamilton jacket solely to celebrate boxing history.
“Without authorization, Supreme altered the approved design, embroiling Mr. Tyson in an unrelated political crisis. This modification constitutes a material breach of contract. With Supreme ignoring repeated demands, Mr. Tyson’s legal counsel will take all necessary action to protect his name, likeness, and legacy.” (Representatives for Supreme did not respond to request for comment by press time.)
Tyson is also the subject of Tyson, a four-part documentary series that premiered on Netflix this week, revisiting his boxing career and controversies outside the ring.
A staple in the world of streetwear and fashion, Supreme frequently features pop-cultural figures in its campaigns and on its clothing. André 3000 appeared in its fall 2022 campaign and on a photo tee. NBA YoungBoy was featured on a shirt in 2023, followed by Tyler, the Creator the following year.
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