Steven Kolb, the CEO and president of the group behind New York Fashion Week, will take a voluntary leave of absence after he was captured on video tackling PETA protesters who disrupted a runway show on Sunday.
Kolb announced his leave Monday, stating, “What happened was completely out of character for me, both personally and as a leader.” The incident occurred during the COS Spring 2027 Fashion Week event when two animal rights activists stormed the runway to protest the use of wool.
Video footage shows Kolb approaching the protesters, grabbing one activist and covering his mouth to silence his chanting. The activist was subsequently removed by security. Kolb then confronted a second protester, who was holding a sign that read, “SHEEP BEATEN AND BLOODIED FOR WOOL DON'T BUY IT!” Kolb restrained this individual, covering her mouth and holding her wrists until security intervened.
“As I review the videos, I understand the reaction they have generated. Frankly, I don’t recognize that person,” Kolb said in a statement. “As a result, I am taking a voluntary leave from work and meeting with a professional to ensure it never happens again.”
The Council of Fashion Designers of America oversees New York Fashion Week, a prominent event in the global fashion calendar. The confrontation occurred in front of an audience of designers, models, and other industry figures.