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5 of the most controversial runway shows ever

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Alexander McQueen S/S 1998

Controversy has followed him his entire life. McQueen was an out of the box thinker that saw the world just a bit differently than most of us. His 1998 show gave us a glimpse into this iconic designer's strange, but brilliant, but, strange, but brilliant imagination.

The "Golden Showers" had models walking the runway while being sprayed with water under yellow lighting. Um, yes.

(Fast forward to around 18:45 to see what we're talking about)

READ MORE: Chanel, Vuitton and Dior just changed fashion shows forever

Ksubi SS/2002

Imagine the screams from the front row! Live rats were let loose on the runway. A whopping 170 of them. According to absolut.com, one rat died on the runway.

Dior S/S 2000

Controversial and problematic designer John Galliano's "Haute Homeless" collection for Dior was anything but fashion forward. Papermag notes that Galliano was inspired by the homeless of Paris - the people he saw along the Seine on his morning jogs. But the collection was ill-received, and Galliano ended up apologising for fetishising the homeless in this manner.

Rick Owens S/S 2016

Also known for sending models with exposed genitalia down the ramp, Owens's show, entitled "Cyclops", featured models carrying other (human) models as backpacks. This stunt was thought to be dehumanising. Which is probably what he was going for...

Misha Collection Resort 2017

Misha Collection angered the public when it sent a troupe of all-white models down the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia ramp, while Beyoncé’s  “Formation” - hailed a “fiery black power anthem” – played. Bella Hadid led the whitewashed band of models.

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