In the wake of the ongoing global protests against systemic racism, the fashion magazine's editor-in-chief apologizes for making 'hurtful' and 'intolerant' mistakes in the past.
- June 10, 2020
AceShowbiz - Anna Wintour has issued a statement to staff at U.S. Vogue amid the ongoing global protests against systemic racism.
Following the death of African-American man George Floyd at the hands of cops in Minneapolis, Minnesota, protests have been taking place worldwide against police brutality and racial injustice, prompting a widespread demand for change.
Vogue's editor-in-chief Wintour is the latest star to speak out about past "mistakes," pledging to take the renowned fashion publication forward with a new, more inclusive perspective, and inviting Black colleagues to get "in touch with me directly" with "thoughts or reactions."
"I want to start by acknowledging your feelings and expressing my empathy towards what so many of you are going through: sadness, hurt, and anger too," she wrote in the note, obtained by the New York Post's gossip column Page Six. "I want to say this especially to the Black members of our team - I can only imagine what these days have been like."
"I also know that the hurt, and violence, and injustice we're seeing and talking about have been around for a long time. Recognizing it and doing something about it is overdue."
She continued: "I want to say plainly that I know Vogue has not found enough ways to elevate and give space to Black editors, writers, photographers, designers and other creators. We have made mistakes too, publishing images or stories that have been hurtful or intolerant. I take full responsibility for those mistakes."
Wintour went on to reflect that it "can't be easy to be a Black employee at Vogue, and there are too few of you," adding, "I know that it is not enough to say we will do better, but we will - and please know that I value your voices and responses as we move forward."
"I am proud of the content we have published on our site over these past few days but I also know that there is much more work to do," she finished. "Please don't hesitate to be in touch with me directly....I welcome your thoughts or reactions."
Vogue has come under fire in recent weeks by former employees including former editor-at-large Andre Leon Talley and digital marketing and sales planner Shelby Ivey Christie, who shared a lengthy Twitter thread calling her time at the publication, "the most challenging + miserable time of my career," insisting, "The bullying + testing from white counterparts, the completely thankless work, the terrible base pay + the racism was exhausting."
