Italian luxury fashion house Dolce & Gabbana has called off a show after a backlash over racially insulting posts on its social media.

The company on Wednesday apologised for insulting remarks about China it allegedly made in exchanges on Instagram but claimed its accounts had been hacked.

Chinese celebrities reacted angrily after screenshots of the conversations were posted on social media and several said they would boycott a D&G show scheduled for Wednesday night.

The company later said the show, an extravaganza meant as a tribute to China with Asian stars invited to take front-row seats, had been called off.