A video reportedly showing a Louis Vuitton security guard slapping what appears to be a teenager outside The Louvre has been circulating on social media.
The alleged incident occurred during an event organized at the famous art gallery by the luxury fashion brand in Paris Fashion Week on October 4.
The video of the shocking moment was posted on Twitter by French lawyer and commentator Juan Branco - who goes by the handle @anatolium - and has racked up 1 million views on the social media platform.
The four-second clip shows a security guard approaching a young boy, whom he grabs with his right arm before smacking him across the face with his left hand.
Watch the incident below:According to Newsweek, Branco wrote in the caption: "Today, Le Louvre completely closed and privatized by and for Bernard Arnault [the billionaire CEO of LVMH], for Louis Vuitton. LVMH agents hit a 13-year-old child. LVMH had the video removed. But we had saved it."
The outlet reported that the poster claimed to them that the video was originally recorded and shared online by an eyewitness at the event but they removed the clip after being "threatened" with "blacklisting and legal proceedings".
The lawyer revealed the incident took place "on the esplanade of Le Louvre," with the teen "rushing to try to have a selfie," adding, "once the footage was transmitted, I verified its origin, the conditions of its deletion, and decided to make it public."
"As a lawyer and a public figure, and also a very connoisseur of this world, I can't be threatened as the original person would have. It's nonetheless extremely problematic to see how it could have gone unnoticed," Branco explained.
The lawyer said the commotion shows how private brands have a growing influence over "public spaces" in the capital city.
"This poses the question of ramping privatization of public space in France. Louvre is and always been a symbol of France as a power, governmental and cultural institution," he explained, adding, "Not a place to be rented for commercial reasons."
Needless to say, many people on the social media platform were angered by the alarming video, which has since amassed 23.3K retweets and 45.5K likes.
One user commented: "Who the f*** gave him the right to assault children?"
While another said: "Dude? What is wrong with people."
A third shared: "He couldn’t send a CHILD back into the crowd without smacking tf out of him ???" and a fourth wrote: "Shame on you, @LouisVuitton."
A spokesperson for Louis Vuitton sent a statement to Newsweek about the viral incident and said: "Louis Vuitton condemns all forms of violence and sincerely apologizes for this inexcusable action."
"As soon as the Maison became aware of this incident, the service provider was immediately contacted to ensure that the security agent no longer work for Louis Vuitton and that necessary measures be implemented going forward to prevent any future reoccurrence," they added.
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