Robot runway act at Vogue World sparks online backlash
Vogue World Milan closed with a performance featuring humanoid robots from Chinese firm Unitree, which drew widespread criticism online. The robots danced to a popular track, and a video of Valentino's creative director reacting negatively went viral. The event highlighted growing public unease with tech's influence in fashion and society.
The robots featured were humanoid units produced by Unitree, a Chinese robotics firm whose dancing machines have recently gained international attention for both their choreography and their tendency to malfunction. Vogue World, now in its fifth year, is a traveling spectacle that has previously stopped in New York, London, Paris, and Hollywood, with a San Francisco edition already announced for next year. That upcoming location aligns with the event's growing corporate backing, which this year included sponsorship from Meta Glasses and additional support from OpenAI. The Milan show was framed as a tribute to Italian craftsmanship and human artistry, making the robotic finale a notable departure from its stated theme. Prominent fashion figures, including Valentino's creative director and Miuccia Prada, were captured on video appearing visibly uncomfortable during the performance, and those reactions spread rapidly across social media.
This incident may signal a widening cultural divide over technology's accelerating role in daily life. Fashion audiences, traditionally focused on human expression and craft, could become a flashpoint for broader anxieties about automation, job displacement, and corporate power. The viral discomfort of industry insiders may influence how other brands approach tech partnerships, potentially slowing adoption in creative sectors. Meanwhile, the celebration of robots by some celebrities may deepen public skepticism toward elite institutions that appear disconnected from economic hardship.