Fashion Executive Steven Kolb Apologizes for Restraining Protester with His Legs During NYFW Show, Says ‘It Wasn’t My Place’

Latoya GayleMon, September 14, 2026 at 3:09 PM UTC

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Steven Kolb restraining a woman at NYFW (left); Steven Kolb at NYFW on Sept. 9, 2026Credit: Peta/Instagram; Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty -

Steven Kolb apologized for physically restraining PETA activists during the COS runway show at New York Fashion Week

The protesters disrupted the show to highlight animal cruelty in the wool industry, calling for brands to stop using wool

PETA criticized Kolb’s actions, while an activist announced that the organization plans to file a police report

A fashion executive is apologizing for his reaction to protesters crashing a New York Fashion Week show.

While models were walking the runway for the COS fall-winter 2026 collection in the WSA building on Sunday, Sept. 13, a group of animal activists from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) emerged holding signs and shouting against supporting the brand owned by Swedish retailer H&M, CNN, The New York Times and The Business of Fashion reported.

A video shared on social media by news site Fashionista shows Steven Kolb, Council of Fashion Designers of America’s CEO and president, physically restraining two of the activists who interrupted the presentation.

Kolb is seen pushing a male protester — identified as Mason Melito, per NYT — away from the runway while holding his sign about animal cruelty. Moments later, Melito is escorted out of the fashion show by security guards.

Steven Kolb restraining a protestor at NYFWCredit: Peta/Instagram

The video also shows Kolb restraining a female activist, who was shouting “get wool off the runway.” He appeared to pin her on the floor with his legs while covering her mouth with his hands.

Models continued to walk the runway amid the altercation, while shocked attendees recorded the chaotic scene on their phones. According to the NYT, Sharon Stone, Michelle Williams and Lupita Nyong’o were among the stars who attended the show in addition to top fashion editors.

An H&M Group spokesperson told PEOPLE, “We can confirm an unfortunate incident happened at the COS show, and our priority was always the safety of guests, models and colleagues at the event.”

Kolb addressed the physical altercation in an Instagram Stories post on Sunday, while opting not to attend Brandon Maxwell’s runway show as planned, CNN and Business of Fashionreported.

“I reacted inappropriately to an incident at a show earlier today. It wasn’t my place to do so. I should have let the security team handle the situation,” he wrote, according to the outlets.

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When contacted by PEOPLE, the CFDA shared a similar statement about the incident.

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“Mr. Kolb acknowledged fully that he responded inappropriately in the moment and that the matter should have been handled by security,” the statement read. “The CFDA agrees that these disruptions should be handled by the security professionals in place.”

The CFDA did not confirm if Kolb will be disciplined as a result of the altercation.

Steven Kolb during New York Fashion Week on Sept. 10, 2026Credit: Michael Loccisano/Getty

Melito, who identifies himself as a senior campaigner with PETA, told the NYT that he was “not physically harmed,” but found the incident “shocking.”

He stated the animal rights organization will be filing a police report against Kolb.

PETA explained on Instagram that the protesters who interrupted the COS runway show were attempting to “expose the suffering of sheep used for wool.” The animal rights organization said Kolb’s “abusive treatment” toward the female activist was “reminiscent of what happens to sheep in the wool industry, when they’re restrained, beaten, and roughly shorn.”

“This animal advocate got to go home, but sheep used for wool end up at the slaughterhouse,” PETA added.

Protestors at the COS New York Fashion Week show on Sept. 13, 2026Credit: Taylor Hill/Getty

The organization shared multiple videos of the protesters on its Instagram Stories, followed by a post directly addressing Kolb.

“Steven Kolb: Instead of violently handling activists who disrupt runways to expose sheep’s suffering, use your position to stop the violence they’re protesting in the first place,” PETA wrote.

“@CFDA has already banned fur from NYFW. Extend that consideration by banning wool and ALL other materials stolen from animals,” the organization added. “@Cosstores and @HMGroup: Stop selling wool. Animals are not ours to wear.”

PETA did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for further comment.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”