Black Model Allegedly Called 'Cockroach' By A Zara Photographer; Fans Call To #BoycottZara

Supermodel and viral star Anok Yai's allegation that Zara did nothing after one of its photographers called her a "cockroach" has triggered calls for a boycott against the Spanish fashion retailer.

Yai made the claims in a May 19 thread on X, formerly Twitter, that has since been deleted. Zara has not publicly addressed her accusations as of this writing.

In her tweets, which were reposted by an Instagram user, the 26-year-old Sudanese model claimed that the unnamed photographer allegedly made racist comments about her during a photoshoot for Zara in 2019.

"I remember in 2019 being called a cockroach by a photographer. It was from this brand that I used to always work with. I didn't speak their language and they didn't speak mine," Yai wrote.

According to Yai, it was during the second-to-last day of the shoot that the photographer allegedly yelled, "'Lotion la cucaracha," as she was getting her makeup done.

The model claimed that "everyone on set" smiled and laughed at the photographer's comment.

Yai, who was only two years into her modeling career at the time, wrote that she did not express how upset she was at the time because she was afraid it would reflect badly not only on herself but also other Black models.

"I can't react the way I want to react because at the end of the day, I'm young, I'm alone, I'm Black ... anything that I do will affect me, my family, and other Black models," she explained.

But Yai claimed she protested the photographer's alleged remarks by not showing up on set until he was replaced.

She alleged that a Zara employee told her at the time: "We don't accept that type of behavior, we'll fire him now. Tell me who he is, and we'll get rid of him."

However, to her dismay, Yai said the photographer was still there when she went to the set to continue the shoot.

"I go to set thinking he's gonna be gone. He walks by me and smiles," Yai alleged.

According to the model, another Zara staffer allegedly informed her that the brand's team believed she lied about the photographer making racist comments about her.

Yai suggested that the team seemingly tried to pin some blame on her as the staffer allegedly told her: "Honestly, whenever you come here, you're never smiling, and you're never happy to be here."

Yai tearfully explained to the Zara employee that she was telling the truth, but the staffer would not believe her.

In the end, the model said she left the set and headed to the airport -- though not before demanding that she be paid the full amount agreed upon for the photoshoot.

The move allegedly led to Yai being "blacklisted" by the brand.

"That was my first (and not only) time being blacklisted. I'm sure they thought I wasn't strong enough to stand," she alleged.

Yai ended the thread by revealing the name of the brand: "Hi b***h @ZARA. Remember me?"

Fans and social media users rallied behind Yai and urged people to "#BoycottZara" following the revelation. Many also asked Yai to reveal the name of the photographer.

"That's disgusting -- so sorry you went through that. Zara again!!! Name the photographer!" one person commented.

"Name him and we will make sure he is cancelled!" another urged.

A third comment read: "How dare they want to use your gorgeous face and skin to make people want to buy their products and insult you in the process. Disgusting."

"And now she at the [Met Gala]," another wrote, adding that losing the supermodel's support was a "big L for Zara."

Some called out the allegedly rampant racism in the fashion industry as a whole.

One Instagram user wrote: "This is what I mean when I say these brands like to 'look' diverse but are actually the most racists behind cameras. It's heartbreaking that there are still people with this mentality."

Yai was discovered in 2017 after photos of her at the homecoming weekend at Howard University went viral on social media.

Just a year later, she made history by becoming the first Black supermodel to open a Prada show after Naomi Campbell.

Yai has since appeared on numerous magazine covers, including U.S. Vogue three times.

Yai recently graced the 2024 Met Gala, where she stunned in a full-body blue jumpsuit featuring 98,000 Swarovski gems.