John Lewis cancels MAC’s ‘back to school’ make-up masterclass for girls as young as 12 after fierce backlash from parents
JOHN Lewis has been forced to cancel a “back to school” make-up class aimed at kids after furious backlash from parents.
The isolated event was to be held at a MAC counter in the Bluewater Shopping Centre near Kent, and was open to girls as young as 12.
One angry mum slammed the mini masterclass as “unacceptable” and said that children “should not be worrying about make-up” .
Meanwhile, a primary school teacher revealed she was “horrified” at the “disappointing” event.
The masterclass was advertised on Facebook, where upset parents left their comments questioning the judgement of the organisers.
One mum wrote: “I’m not sure how I feel about this.
“I love make-up and definitely love a MAC product, and as a woman in her thirties I am entitled to do what I want with my face and body.
“But a ‘back to school’ beauty event, with a focus on skin and brows for 12+ year olds? Not sure that’s appropriate.”
And another parent added: “John Lewis and MAC, I’m horrified either of you are involved with such a stunt. Two brands I thought had more sense.
“I’m a primary school teacher, and a mum of two girls, and I’m already seeing the heartbreaking reality of the pressure girls feel at younger and younger ages over their appearance.
“Why would you feed in to this? They don’t need tips on make-up from the age of 12.”
Richard Crellin, Policy and Research Manager, at The Children’s Society, told Fabulous Digital: “This is shocking.
“Girls in particular feel a lot of pressure to look good and they tell us time and again how unhappy this can make them.
“Traditional gender stereotypes also play a part in lower well-being, for example, boys feeling the need to be tough and girls feeling the need to look pretty.
“Make up classes like this may actually exacerbate these issues and could be making our young people even less happy with their lives.”
John Lewis released a statement apologising for an upset the masterclass has caused.
It said: “This was an isolated event organised at a local MAC counter.
“This was an isolated event organised at a local MAC counter.
“As a brand MAC does not market to anyone under 16 so this event should not have been arranged. It has been cancelled and we are very sorry for any upset caused.
“We’re looking into how it happened to make sure that this type of event doesn’t take place again.”
MAC launched in Toronto in 1984 and became part of the Estee Lauder Companies in 1998, and has collaborated with the likes of RuPaul and Nicki Minaj over the years.
[“source=thesun”]
