Valentino got into some hot water after promoting the handbag that Amy Adams brought to Philip Seymour Hoffman’s funeral, and now the fashion house is apologizing.
The fashion house sent out a press release this week noting that the Oscar-nominated Adams wore one of the handbags from the Spring/Summer collection while in New York. At first glance, the release didn’t look like anything other than typical self-promotion.
“We are pleased to announce Amy Adams carrying the Valentino Garavani Rockstud Duble bag from the Spring/Summer 2014 collection on Feb. 6 in New York,” the press release read.
But the photo attached to the press release showed a clearly grieving Adams, dressed in black with dark sunglasses covering her eyes and a solemn look on her face. The reason for the attire was that Adams was headed to the funeral of friend and fellow actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, who died last weekend in New York.
After a barrage of angry tweets, Valentino quickly took back the release and tweeted its own apology .
“We regret releasing a photo of Amy Adams with a Valentino bag. Unaware of the circumstances it was a mistake and we apologize to Ms. Adams.”
Adams was one of many stars to turn out for Hoffman’s funeral. Others including Joaquin Phoenix, Meryl Streep, and Cate Blanchett were in attendance.
Hoffman was found early Sunday in his New York apartment, the victim of an apparent drug overdose. Hoffman had been open about his struggles with addiction on the past, saying he was clean for decades before falling off the wagon a few years ago. In 2013 he went to detox for an opiate addiction, but struggled to stay sober.
Amy Adams was particularly stung by Hoffman’s death. During an appearance on Inside the Actor’s Studio, Adams was so overcome with emotion that she sobbed and had a difficult time finishing most of her sentences, a source told Us Weekly . Adams, who appeared alongside Philip Seymour Hoffman in Doubt and The Master , also reportedly pulled out of scheduled television appearances as she dealt with the grief of her lost friend.
The Valentino bag that Amy Adams brought to Philip Seymour Hoffman’s funeral had a $2,500 price tag.
