Steven Kolb is taking a leave of absence from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) after video showing him physically restraining People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) protesters at a New York Fashion Week show on Sunday, 13 September, sparked a major backlash.
The CFDA president and CEO announced his 'voluntary leave from work' after the dramatic confrontation at Sunday's COS show, with the organisation confirming that Kolb will remain on leave 'pending a full review' of his actions.
Protesters Disrupt the Runway Over Wool
The dramatic incident unfolded as several PETA activists disrupted COS's Spring/Summer 2027 runway show at the WSA building in New York.
The protesters walked onto the runway carrying signs criticising the use of wool and calling on COS and its parent company, H&M Group, to stop using the material.
Kolb, who was attending the show, intervened as the disruption unfolded.
Footage shared by PETA and captured by Fashionista showed Kolb physically restraining two protesters. In one sequence, he appeared to pin a female activist to the floor with his legs while covering her mouth with his hand.
He was also seen confronting a male protester and attempting to prevent him from continuing the demonstration.
The confrontation quickly drew widespread attention online, putting the head of the organisation behind the Official New York Fashion Week Schedule at the centre of a controversy.
Fashion executive restrains PETA activists and covers their mouth after they stormed a runway during New York Fashion Week.
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) September 14, 2026
The CEO of CFDA was seen restraining activists by covering their mouths as they demanded an end to the wool industry. pic.twitter.com/es2ivNKfKq
Kolb Issues Apology After Confrontation
Kolb initially acknowledged that he had intervened inappropriately, saying he should have allowed security personnel to deal with the protesters.
'It wasn't my place to do so. I should have let the security team handle the situation,' he wrote in an Instagram Stories post shortly after the incident.
He issued a fuller apology on Monday, taking responsibility for his actions and saying there was 'no justification for physically restraining another person'.
'My actions were wrong, and I am deeply sorry,' Kolb wrote, according to PEOPLE. 'I take full responsibility for my actions.'
Ahora sí, Steven Kolb pidió disculpas. Cambio de tono total. Dice se tomará una licencia laboral voluntaria del CDFA y que ya aceptó una invitación de PETA para discutir sus preocupaciones y espera disculparse en persona con los dos manifestantes que agredió:
— Rebeca Maccise (@rebecamaccise) September 14, 2026
"El domingo, en el… https://t.co/iuyGXIEm5b pic.twitter.com/eNQHZ8ggIv
Kolb also said he did not recognise the person he saw in the footage of the incident and that he would seek help from a professional.
He added that he had agreed to meet with PETA to hear the organisation's concerns.
The CFDA subsequently announced that Kolb would be taking a leave.
'The CFDA takes this matter very seriously, and as a result, Mr. Kolb will be on leave pending a full review,' the organisation said. It added that it remained committed to working with 'dissenting voices' and to 'respectful engagement with differing viewpoints'.
PETA Calls for Greater Scrutiny of Wool
The move comes as PETA continues its campaign against the use of wool by COS and H&M Group.
The animal rights organisation has accused the fashion industry of cruelty towards sheep and said its activists were protesting COS over the use of wool. PETA said it would file a police report and pursue potential criminal charges following the confrontation.
NOW: “Bloody Sheep, Cruelty in Wool Industry” Protest by PETA supporters outside a New York Fashion Week Event at Rockefeller Center in Midtown NYC
— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) September 10, 2026
Video by Ken Lopez | Licensing @FreedomNTV [email protected] pic.twitter.com/uL6ibjw7TZ
PETA later welcomed Kolb's apology while saying it wanted him to review the group's investigations into the wool industry.
The protest itself also raised questions about security at the COS show. The Cut spoke with witnesses who described the confrontation as unsettling, while one fashion editor said security personnel were difficult to see despite multiple protesters entering the event.
COS's parent company, H&M Group, said the safety of guests, models and colleagues at the event had always been its priority.
Controversy Puts CFDA Chief Under Review
The controversy comes less than a year after the CFDA announced that animal fur would be banned from New York Fashion Week beginning with the 2026 season. The policy does not extend to wool, however, making the COS protest a fresh flashpoint over the fashion industry's use of animal-derived materials.
Kolb has served as the CFDA's president and CEO since 2011 and has been with the organisation since 2006. Over the course of his tenure, he has become one of the most recognisable figures behind New York Fashion Week. Just days before the confrontation, he was still appearing publicly in his role, including at a CFDA event celebrating American fashion during the September 2026 fashion week.
Now, his future at the organisation is temporarily under review as the fallout from the confrontation continues.
