An uproar ensued as Victoria’s secret customers vowed to boycott the brand following its Chief Marketing Officer Ed Razek’s comments regarding plus-sized and transgender models.
The remarks were about why Victoria’s Secret had not cast transgender or plus-sized models for their runway shows.
According to Variety, it was in a Vogue interview where Razek made his comments in which he referred to transgender people as “transsexuals,” an outdated term and implied that transgender models are not worthy of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
“So it’s like, why don’t you do 50? Why don’t you do 60? Why don’t you do 24? It’s like, why doesn’t your show do this?” he said. “Shouldn’t you have transsexuals in the show? No. No, I don’t think we should. Well, why not? Because the show is a fantasy. It’s a 42-minute entertainment special.”
On Friday Victoria’s Secret posted a statement from Razek on their
Please read this important message from Ed Razek, Chief Marketing Officer, L Brands (parent company of Victoria’s Secret). pic.twitter.com/CW8BztmOaM
— Victoria’s Secret (@VictoriasSecret) November 10, 2018
The apology came a little too late as people had already expressed their outrage with the original remarks.
Model Tess Holliday was one of many that took to
Who needs VS anyway?! They never supported plus ladies & now they are trying to dis my trans sisters? Hell nah. Kiss my fat ass @VictoriasSecret pic.twitter.com/aRevb4Qfee
— Tess Holliday 🥀 (@Tess_Holliday) November 10, 2018
So you “admire and respect” them but just think they can’t be models? What a BS apology!
— Eric Rosswood (@LGBT_Activist) November 10, 2018
@VictoriasSecret we just can’t handle this sort of transphobic & misogynistictired ass language. This type of language, rigid standard of beauty, and nonsense tone will die off from corporate America just like your antiquated show and brand. Get it together – DO BETTER pic.twitter.com/ScJZy4HOJm
— Jonathan Van Ness (@jvn) November 10, 2018
Here’s a secret for Victoria: plus size and trans people are beautiful and don’t need her approval. @VictoriasSecret
— Miz Cracker (@miz_cracker) November 11, 2018
I, as a transsexual woman and model have a @VictoriasSecret credit card and over 30 pair of panties from them. Sad that I can no longer support the brand since these undergarments were not created for my kind of woman from my understanding. I don’t fit the “fantasy”. Cool.
— Isis King (@MsIsisKing) November 10, 2018
