Man Jailed in Dubai for Wearing Marc Jacobs T-Shirt

Posted Jun 26th 2009 at 1:53PM by Maureen Dempsey (Subscribe to Maureen Dempsey's posts)

The T-shirt that led to the big house. Photo: eBay

A Lebanese man visiting Dubai was jailed after wearing a Marc Jacobs T-shirt, reports The Telegraph. Dubai, known for its flourishing shopping scene, wasn't so much dismayed by the designer label, but what was on the tee -- Victoria Beckham, naked.

Raffi Nernekian's T-shirt was one in series that Jacobs designed in 2008 for a cancer awareness campaign. (Proceeds benefitted the NYU School of Medicine Interdisciplinary Melanoma Cooperative Group.) Nernekian's shirt displayed Beckham, nude, with the words "Protect the skin you're in" covering her naughty bits.

According to the article, Nernekian was confronted by a Dubai resident at a local bakery; when Nernekian changed and returned to the establishment, the police were waiting for him. He was sentenced to one month in prison and will be deported from Dubai after his jail term has been completed.

We always heard that Dubai was serious about fashion, but we didn't think they were prison-sentence serious.

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Tags: deportation, dubai, jail, lebanon, marc-jacobs, melanoma, naked, new-york-university, nude, nyu, prison, skin cancer, t-shirt, victoria-bekcham

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)

AngelBaby 6-27-2009 @ 6:20AM

I've never been to Dubai but even I know about the laws there regarding implied nudity and decency. This guy was from Lebanon. There is no way he lived his whole life in the middle east without at least getting a hint of what a conservative nation the United Arab Emirates is! He deserves to be in jail for intentionally trying to rile people up and mocking their laws.

When in Rome....

Master Shake 6-28-2009 @ 8:50AM

This is no different from the absurd laws that the United States has - the only difference is that YOU grew up with them, so they seem "normal" to you. Why should it be illegal for a passenger in a car to drink an alcoholic beverage? Why should it be illegal for an 18 year old to touch his 17 year old girlfriend? Why should it be illegal for someone to yell at a neighbor? These things will all get you jail time in the US, but not anywhere in Europe or Asia.

dcrosetti 6-28-2009 @ 9:50AM

I can appreciate your opinion. The person that responded to you was pointing out some very interesting thoughts. When we look at "context" things become clear to us. For example, In Singapore, it is illegal to vandalize property with graffitti. I know it is illegal here too. But in Singapore the punishment by law is not a fine. It is not jail time. They tie you to a board and beat you on the rear end five strokes with a bamboo rod. I wish we had a law like that here. Some people wouldn't. The reality is, if we don't like a law, then we change it. In my state, for example, it is illegal to park your horse in front of a bar. I guess they were trying to prevent drunk riding. I personally use my lawnmower to drive to a bar, because there is no law about cutting grass while drunk.

Jeff 6-28-2009 @ 12:29PM

how stupendous that is like saying we in America will JAIL anyone who tries to have change introduced like OK YOU KNOW it is UNCONSTITUTIONAL for two gay peo-ple to marry but yet in some states they can so JAIL everyone involved! Just put them the F in jail and forget that we have rights! I will not be spending any vacations in ABU DUBAI you know where CATS go to heaven! LMAO

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hmtgo 6-27-2009 @ 4:40PM

absolutely ridiculous! these people are subhuman! everybody it seems these days is offended at something that is not offensive. people need to grow up and be happy that at least here in America we have freedom to express ourselves. maybe the police should worry about violent crime and not sweat the small stuff that is really not even stuff.

Stacey 6-27-2009 @ 2:29PM

I agree that the guy should have used some common sense and probably not worn the shirt in the first place. BUT he did have the presence of mind to at least change the shirt when he was confronted regarding its impropriety. I don't know that he was "intentionally trying to rile people up" or "mocking their laws" so much as he was just an idiot, so I don't feel he deserves jail time for his offense - maybe a stiff fine though.

Dubai Tourist with smarts 6-27-2009 @ 3:45PM

I have personally been to Dubai and I completely understand why the person was jailed. While it IS an upcoming tourist area with many of today's popular trends in fashion, it is primarily a Muslim culture still holding many of the old fashioned family values. For instance, many women do not work. They tend to the family and wear a berka, the traditional robe covering the body and face except for the eyes. It is considered offensive to show the bottom of ones feet. Additionally, women who do work, do not hold labor intensive jobs. They may work as cashiers at local stores, under the watchful eye of men. This is not out of fear or wanting to repress the women from their potential. It is simply an act of respect. One does not look at the females in Dubai directly. It is seen as an insult. Perhaps in our society the shirt would not be offensive, however, we must remember when traveling to other countries, one should always be respectful of their customs, culture, and language. Do research. Afterall, if someone visited your home, you would appreciate it if they did their best to respect and follow your own customs. Therefore, I completely understand and agree with this act.

Kelly 6-28-2009 @ 8:25AM

They may work as cashiers at local stores, under the watchful eye of men. This is not out of fear or wanting to repress the women from their potential. It is simply an act of respect.

Of course they are doing it to repress them! Idiot.

dave 6-28-2009 @ 10:47AM

and they should do the same when they come here. Take off that robe and use english. That goes for everyone who wants to live here.

RanVg 6-28-2009 @ 11:11AM

Perhaps in our society the shirt would not be offensive, however, we must remember when traveling to other countries, one should always be respectful of their customs, culture, and language.

Good Advice. Advice others should take when visiting the United States. But then with some our customs, culture, and language doesn't deserve respect. Jailtime for wearing a T-Shirt is cruel and overkill. Fine maybe, but jailtime pathetic.

Rachel 6-28-2009 @ 11:48AM

as if cashiering on one's feet all day is not labor intensive. you are, as kelly so concisely pointed out, an idiot, and apparently a misogynist as well

rick 6-30-2009 @ 2:00AM

you americans are isolated and alone. this explains why you are su dumb.
nothing he said could be attacked, yet the most intelligent response was "you are an idiot"
you americans are so inferior. always crying about what some other country is doing. clean up your own country.

with your welfare and no morals. you people are trash. you know it too. thats why you lash out at everyone. take a good look at dubai. then look at your town.

what have your country done for you?

dRop the beaT 6-27-2009 @ 6:17PM

oh, this is just ridiculous.
not like you can see anything.
people these days get offended by everything. lighten up?

BARBERDICK 6-28-2009 @ 6:59AM

what bs and we buy oil from these people but we won't buy oil from
south america because they are commie's what a world we live in we
need to get our head's out of our asses
gas in south america 30 cents in dubia 20 cents here in the good old
USA 2.70 so what does that tell us our powerfull goverment connected
oil guru's are in bed with these hater's of women and personal rights
. but against countrys that are backwards but civil even tho they are
communist. wake up america we are being dubed buy money grubbing
statesmen with warped views of the past,

Joel Lafargue 6-28-2009 @ 10:00AM

Will you PLEASE learn how to spell properly before you post again?

Thank you.

Joe Maira 6-28-2009 @ 7:33AM

Ask the Prison Guard if you can bring the Tee Shirt into your Jail Cell and always remember...... you do not need to wear a condom while having sex with a tee shirt...

NOW LISTEN UP FOOLS........THE TEE SHIRT MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE THE ONLY ONE HELD ACCOUNTABLE NO MATTER WHAT COUNTRY IT WAS MADE IN.....I'M SURE THERE WERE NO DRESS STIPULATIONS OF ANY KIND ATACHED TO THE GARMENT!

My instructions to release the man from jail as follows........ Call New York, find an Attorney with the last name ending in Stein.....he will take it from there !!! LOL

Why? 6-28-2009 @ 12:27PM

Why should it be the Tshirt Manufacturer? They didn't force the guy to buy it and wear it in Dubai. It was HIS choice.

Ike 6-28-2009 @ 7:17AM

Nothing wrong with wearing the shirt in America, but he wasn't here. As one poster put it, you respect the house you visit.

"Here's a riddle: What's the difference between fine draperies and toilet paper?"
" I don't know."
" Don't come to MY house!"

mjsjr52 6-28-2009 @ 7:29AM

I have never been to Dubai but understand it's a very conservative country. Since the tourist is Lebanese you would think he would know better, apparently not so so now he gets to cool his heels in a Dubain(?) pokey.

small time for a small crime but you should respect the local standards.

If this shirt was being sold in an Alabama Wal*Mart you bet your boots there would be complaints.