The CEO and president of the group behind New York Fashion Week will take a voluntary leave of absence after he was caught on video tackling PETA protesters who disrupted a major runway show Sunday.
Council of Fashion Designers of America CEO Steven Kolb made the announcement after he grabbed two of the animal rights activists and covered their mouths as they stormed the COS Spring 2027 Fashion Week event to chant about banning wool in Manhattan.
“What happened was completely out of character for me, both personally and as a leader,” Kolb said Monday in a statement on his Instagram story.
Steph Saltzman for Fashionista
“As I review the videos, I understand the reaction they have generated. Frankly, I don’t recognize that person. As a result, I am taking a voluntary leave from work and meeting with a professional to ensure it never happens again.”
The PETA protesters were waving signs and chanting in front of the A-list audience when Kolb’s meltdown unfolded, the shocking clip showed.
He put his hands around PETA campaigner Mason Melito and covered his mouth to stop him from chanting before the animal rights advocate was hauled out by security.
Kolb was then seen grabbing another protester — who yelled about the need to “Protect sheep!” — to the ground, covering her mouth and restraining her by the wrists.
The PETA protesters went straight to a local police precinct and told The Post on Sunday that they planned to file charges against the CFDA for the public altercation.
“She felt like she was being suffocated,” Melito said of his colleague. “She’s using her body to speak up for the sheep that have no say whatsoever. She is now at urgent care.
“We’re trying to tell people that there’s no need to wear animals or anything that comes from animals nowadays. Animal skin is something that just belongs to the animal,” he said.
“The violence that was shown to PETA supporters is honestly nothing compared to what these sheep go through.”
Melito was referring to PETA’s claims that COS, a mid-range offshoot of Swedish parent company H&M, has used wool from farms with allegations of abuse against its sheep in its clothing.
The CFDA chief added in a statement that he has accepted a meeting with PETA to discuss the animal advocacy group’s concerns and hopes to apologize to the two protesters.
“I am deeply sorry and hold myself accountable. I have accepted an invitation from PETA to meet and discuss their concerns, and I hope to have the opportunity to apologize in person to the two individuals who did not deserve that treatment,” Kolb said.
H&M group told NBC News in a statement that “an unfortunate incident happened at the COS show, and our priority was always the safety of guests, models, and colleagues at the event.”
In response to PETA’s allegations, the group contended that it sources animal fibers only from certified farms and recycled sources.
“When it comes to PETA’s allegations on wool sourced for our brand we can share that, we only source animal fibres from certified farms and, where possible, from recycled sources, where quality and availability allow,” the statement said.
“All virgin wool and mohair used in our products come from farms certified by the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) and the Responsible Mohair Standard (RMS). Both third‑party certification systems are owned and governed by Textile Exchange.”
The CFDA and H&M group did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
