Outrage as bosses of Byron Bay fashion label ask customers to follow anti-vaxxer celebrities Pete Evans and ex Home and Away star Isabel Lucas for their news in bizarre 'all lives matter' rant
- Byron Bay clothing label has sparked outrage after controversial Instagram post
- Yöli & Otis released statement following the death of black man George Floyd
- Lena Catterick, the fashion label's owner, said 'all lives matter' in lengthy post
- Her family get their information from 'an alternative view', including Pete Evans
A boutique Byron Bay clothing label has sparked outrage after sharing a controversial 'all lives matter' post in the wake of George Floyd's death and protests about racial inequality.
Yöli & Otis, based in the northern NSW coastal community, used news of the turmoil gripping the U.S. to share a contentious Instagram post about mainstream media and political agendas on Wednesday.
The fashion label said they receive their information from 'an alternative view' and referred to anti-vaxxer conspiracy theorists, celebrity chef Pete Evans and anti-vaxx ex-Home and Away actor, Isabel Lucas.
Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died in custody of the Minneapolis Police Department on Monday May 25 after an officer knelt on his neck for eight minutes while making an arrest.

A boutique Byron Bay clothing label has sparked outrage after sharing a controversial 'all lives matter' post in the wake of George Floyd's death and protests about racial inequality. Pictured: Yöli & Otis owner Lena Catterick (left) and Carlo Letica (right)


Yöli & Otis, based in the northern NSW coastal community, jumped on the recent chain of events to share a contentious Instagram post about mainstream media and political agendas on Wednesday
His death has led to rallies across the U.S and the world and sparked a global social media movement condemning violence against black people at the hands of police.
Lena Catterick, who owns and created Yöli & Otis, suggested the recent events were a cover-up on bigger political issues.
'I believe we need to look deeper. A connection needs to be made between those in power and their ability to push the world in one direction or another to suit their own invested interests,' the statement reads.
'If they wanted to end racism and division, they could. If they wanted to end poverty, they could. If they wanted to reverse the effects of global warming, they could.
'The system fuels violence, they perpetuate fear, create division, inequality, poverty, protect the elite.'
The mum-of-two said she was aware of her privilege as a white woman and she was not undervaluing the life of Floyd.

Lena Catterick, who owns and created Yöli & Otis, suggested the recent events were a cover-up on bigger political issues

The mum-of-two said she was aware of her privilege as a white woman and she was not undervaluing the life of Floyd
'I'm not by any means undervaluing or comparing the life of George Floyd to others who have suffered at the hands of police brutality but I do want you to pay attention to how these disgusting and inhuman events are being exploited for political purpose,' the post read.
'No human deserves to suffer at the hands of another human. That seems very straightforward to me. My stance has and always will be that ALL LIVES MATTER.'
The post concludes by explaining the family does not access their information through mainstream news and instead looks to alternative sources.
'Look, we don't watch the mainstream news and from an alternative view we don't see this as being a war on race… We see this as being a distraction if anything, a political game,' it concludes.
'But whatever way we look at it… RACISM IS NEVER OKAY.
'There is so much to uncover right now and I can't even begin to explain it myself but here are some great people who have done an amazing job at providing us with the resources needed to further expand our minds.'

Lena Catterick said her stance would always be 'all lives matter' in the wake of the death of George Floyd

The fashion label said they receive their information from 'an alternative view' and referred to anti-vaxxer conspiracy theorists, celebrity chef Pete Evans and actress Isabel Lucas
The fashion label, who have more than 190,000 followers on Instagram, were quickly slammed for the 'ignorant' statement.
'I know you probably think this post is coming from a place of love but I think it does come across as being quite ignorant,' one person wrote.
'Right now black people are finally getting a time to shine light on all the injustices they have faced after a life time of oppression... To try then divert that light onto other issues is taking away from the movement.'
Another wrote: 'Stop looking to people who said themselves 'don't experience racism' and 'doesn't watch mainstream news' for support. We are giving the wrong people a voice and platform.'
A third said: 'Honestly this is very hurtful reading this, I understand where you are coming from with your point about the media being divisive, yet at the same time, real lives are being hunted.'


The fashion label, who have more than 190,000 followers on Instagram, were quickly slammed for the 'ignorant' statement

Yöli & Otis tagged Evans and Lucas in their post as sources of alternate information
'Automatically you go to using the phrase all lives matter when that was only created as a diversion to black lives matter, that is not okay.
'If you truly cared, you would be using your platform every day to talk on the white supremacist system that affects every single one of us.'
Other commenters directly addressed the success of the fashion label when criticising the post.
'Extremely disappointed in this statement. You sell $350 shirts so that your family can traipse across Europe. Check your privilege,' one wrote.
Yöli & Otis tagged Evans and Lucas in their post as sources of alternate information.
The former MKR judge has controversially spouted anti-vaccine sentiments on social media.
Lucas used her platform to speak about the potential dangers of 5G.

'Black lives matter,' one Instagram user commented in response to the lengthy post

'Extremely disappointed in this statement. You sell $350 shirts so that your family can traipse across Europe. Check your privilege,' one comment read