Steven Kolb has resigned as chief executive and president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America after a filmed confrontation with PETA protesters at New York Fashion Week.
Kolb, who had led the industry organisation for twenty years, was recorded tackling protesters who disrupted the COS Spring 2027 Fashion Week event on Sunday. The activists were chanting in Manhattan in support of a ban on wool.
Video from the incident showed Kolb putting his hands around PETA campaigner Mason Melito and covering his mouth. He also grabbed another protester after she shouted, 'Protect sheep!' Footage showed Kolb covering her mouth and restraining her by the wrists.
The confrontation quickly shifted from a disruption of a runway show into a crisis for the leadership of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, which oversees New York Fashion Week. Kolb first said he would take a voluntary leave from work, before announcing his resignation days later.
In a statement posted to his Instagram story on Monday, Kolb said: 'What happened was completely out of character for me, both personally and as a leader.'
He added: 'I hope to have the opportunity to apologize in person to the two individuals who did not deserve that treatment.'
Kolb accepted an invitation from PETA to meet and discuss the organisation's concerns. The protesters told The Post on Sunday that they intended to file charges against the CFDA. The brief does not state whether charges were filed or give the status of any proceedings.
Kolb announced his departure in a statement published through Substack on September 18, 2026. He described the decision to step down as 'deeply emotional'.
The CFDA has not set out a formal response or a plan for replacing Kolb in the information available. It is also unknown what effect his departure will have on the organisation's leadership or the running of future Fashion Week events.
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