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1 of 10The dog does not look like he's comfortable with this photo shoot aimed to sell leg warmers—the only article of clothing that the model is actually wearing.American Apparel -
2 of 10Apart from the obvious eyebrow raising content in the ad, there was some internet chatter that the male subject of the photo was Dov Charney, himself.American Apparel -
3 of 10While this photo lacks explicit nudity or allusions to sexual acts, this ad was banned in the UK because the Advertising Standards Authority thought the model's pose was "gratuitous… overtly sexual and that they demeaned women."American Apparel -
4 of 10The ASA also banned this ad in the UK because it was deemed "exploitative" for sexualizing young women.American Apparel -
5 of 10American Apparel was regularly criticized for sexualizing students and young models.American Apparel -
6 of 10When Faye Reagan isn't starring in American Apparel ads, she's starring in porn.American Apparel -
7 of 10Don't these models get cold?American Apparel -
8 of 10The panel on the left side of the ad is overtly sexual and only tangentially sock related.American Apparel -
9 of 10Sex and the male torso play prominent roles in American apparel ads.American Apparel -
10 of 10And here's the founder and CEO himself. Flavorwire labeled this ad as a representation of "The Dov Charney-Williamsburg axis of evil."American Apparel
Late Wednesday night, American Apparel fired to its controversy-courting founder Dov Charney as chief executive due to an “ongoing investigation into alleged misconduct.”
At the same time that scandal clung to Charney, the company’s financial performance faltered. Shares in the company have fallen 84 percent over the past five years. Charney was the subject of lawsuits for sexual harassment and violence aimed at employees, charges routinely denied by American Apparel.
Charney relished the aura of misbehavior and his company’s advertising became renown for its over-the-top and unbuttoned sexual imagery. Some of the ads were so out-there that they drew bans overseas.
Here’s a look at ten of the most controversial ads used by the retailer.
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