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Karl Lagerfeld's trusty foot-in-the-mouth struck again this weekend, but this time no celebrities were harmed in the making of this statement. Instead, Lagerfeld's frequently blunt words took a political turn when he directed them toward France's President Francois Hollande in an interview in Spanish Marie Claire, allegedly calling the president an "imbécil" (or idiot). Reacting to the newly minted Socialist government's 75 percent tax rate on incomes over 1 million euros, the un-official, official statement compares Hollande to president to Spanish Socialist former prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, and reads "This idiot will be as disastrous as Zapatero was." Lagerfeld continued with the following:
[Hollande is] disastrous. He wants to punish [the rich] and, of course, they're leaving (the country). Nobody is investing. Foreigners don't want to invest any more in France—and this is not working. Besides, France—apart from fashion, jewelry, perfume and wine—is not competitive. Nothing else sells. Who buys French cars? Not me.
But it wouldn't be a true Lagerfeld statement without backtracking. Chanel's designer denied that he called France's pres an "idiot" on French television, saying, "Of course I never said that! I don't speak Spanish, I speak a little of Italian but no Spanish. I saw [Hollande] on TV and I found him very fun, spiritual and intelligent." Then adds more carefully that "The luxury business is an industry that makes a lot of money and should not be considered like something we should be ashamed off [sic]."
The business side of things hits closer to home for the prolific designer than say Pippa Middleton's face, but consider adding foot-in-the-mouth Lagerfeld and moon-walking Lagerfeld to the Army of Karls Halloween costume.
· Karl Lagerfeld Speaks Out in Spanish Marie Claire [WWD]
· Karl Lagerfeld Doesn't Like Pippa Middleton's Face [Racked]
· Karl Lagerfeld Backtracks on His Pippa Middleton Insult [Racked]