Rogue model stages 'please kill Angela Merkel' protest at Rick Owens Paris Fashion Week show

The model held up the banner at the catwalk show today in Paris

Fashion shows are no stranger to controversy; from naked body parts to tumbling models, it takes a lot to surprise a fashion crowd. But a political protest caused an unexpected interruption at the Rick Owens show today in Paris.

It is the second day of the bi-annual menswear Paris Fashion Week where designers are showcasing their spring/summer 2015 collections and Rick Owens was one of the bigger names on today's schedule.

Mid-way through the show, a model - thought to be Jera Diarc took the opportunity of a moment in front of the cameras to make a political protest.

The male model pulled out a banner mid-walk which read "Please kill Angela Merkel" with the word "not" written underneath.

A model makes a protest at the Rick Owens spring/summer 2016 show

The brand was quick to distance themselves from the protest, swiftly putting out a statement that the message was not in any way sanctioned by the brand:

"Rick Owens does not claim responsibility for the act of protest by a model at the Spring Summer 2016 show. This was an independent statement and does not reflect the opinion of the house of Rick Owens."

In comments made backstage Owens expressed his fury at the model's actions:

"I think it says Kill Angela Merkel or something? Is that what it said? I don’t know because it was not my idea. He pulled it out and I punched him when he came off stage. He’s been my male muse for the past twelve years or something and I think he just felt comfortable enough to do something in a show and I’m furious."

Owens is no stranger to controversy on the catwalk, earlier this year he caused a furore when he sent models down the runway with strategically placed holes in their garments exposing their genital regions.