ֱ

Fancy Scrub Co. Hung Out to Dry Over Ad

— FIGS apologizes after social media backlash

Last Updated October 15, 2020
MedpageToday
A screenshot from the Figs video advertisement

A company that makes high-priced fashionable scrubs is under fire for a video ad that social media critics have blasted for simultaneously disrespecting osteopathic doctors and women.

The video, which FIGS has since scrubbed from but was shows a woman in pink scrubs holding the book "Medical Terminology for Dummies" upside-down. She wears a badge that says "DO."

Physicians reacted swiftly on social media. In an that garnered more than 2,200 likes and 150 comments, Hala Sabry, DO, an emergency medicine physician in Seattle and founder of a physician moms Facebook group, wrote, "This is what sexism in medicine looks like. Women, physicians, nurses and clinicians deserve respect."

Emily Porter, MD, a physician in Austin, Texas, , "2020: Where a company like @wearfigs still thinks it's cute to make an ad of a female physician (DO in this case) reading a 'Medical Terminology for Dummies' book upside down & then expects her to turn around and pay $90 for a pair of scrubs. Guess what? We wised up. #boycottfigs."

FIGS : "A lot of you guys have pointed out an insensitive video we had on our site -- we are incredibly sorry for any hurt this has caused you, especially our female DOs (who are amazing!) FIGS is a female founded company whose only mission is to make you guys feel awesome."

"We dropped the ball and and we are so sorry. We love you guys and we'll always listen to what you have to say!"

Nonetheless, the hashtag #boycottfigs was one of the most prominent of the controversy, and many commenters said they would no longer be buying the company's scrubs, which can .

Osteopathic doctors were particularly outraged, especially as the president's physician, Sean Conley, DO, was disparaged in recent weeks for being one, forcing them to defend a position they thought was secured long ago.

Kevin Klauer, DO, CEO of the American Osteopathic Association, to "REMOVE YOUR DO offensive web ad immediately or the @AOAforDOs will proceed promptly with a defamation lawsuit on behalf of our members and profession."

that the image had been removed and that its leadership was in contact with the company.

The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine : "We are outraged that in 2020, women physicians and doctors of osteopathic medicine are still attacked in thoughtless and ignorant marketing campaigns. A company like FIGS that asks us to spend money on its product should be ashamed for promoting these stereotypes."

FIGS was founded by two women, Heather Hasson and Trina Spear. The company did not respond to a ֱ request for comment.

  • author['full_name']

    Kristina Fiore leads ֱ’s enterprise & investigative reporting team. She’s been a medical journalist for more than a decade and her work has been recognized by Barlett & Steele, AHCJ, SABEW, and others. Send story tips to k.fiore@medpagetoday.com.