CFDA President Steven Kolb placed on leave after restraining PETA protesters

Steven Kolb, CEO and president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), has been placed on leave following a physical confrontation with PETA activists during a COS runway show at New York Fashion Week.

During the event, which showcased the brand's Fall/Winter 2026 collection, activists interrupted the show to protest the use of wool. Video footage captured Kolb physically intervening by pushing a male protester and using his leg to restrain a female activist while covering her mouth.

Kolb issued an apology via Instagram, stating, “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.” The CFDA announced that Kolb will remain on leave pending a full review of the incident.

PETA has characterized the encounter as an assault and indicated plans to file a police report and pursue criminal charges. H&M Group, the parent company of COS, addressed the wool concerns by stating they source fibers from certified farms and have recently suspended licenses for certain farms following investigations into animal welfare allegations.