News & Opinion
Victoria's Secret Exec Apologizes for Transphobic Comments
Getty Images
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
Victoria's Secret has come under fire for some wildly insensitive remarks made by Ed Razek, chief marketing officer for L Brands. The senior executive recently told Vogue that trans models don't belong in the "fantasy" of a Victoria's Secret fashion show.
Related | Trans Women Don't Exist in Victoria's Secret's Fantasy World
"It's like, why doesn't your show do this? 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. That's what it is."
He also explained why the brand doesn't embrace plus-sized models.
"We attempted to do a television special for plus-sizes [in 2000]. No one had any interest in it, still don't."
Suffice to say, social media was not having it. Razek and the lingerie brand have received swift backlash in the few days since the interview has gone live. But now, Razek has issued an apology via the brand's Twitter.
\u201cPlease read this important message from Ed Razek, Chief Marketing Officer, L Brands (parent company of Victoria\u2019s Secret).\u201d— Victoria's Secret (@Victoria's Secret) 1541822508
For many, the apology felt less than sincere. Members of the community have responded to Razek's half-hearted apology that does little to address the problematic nature of his original comment. It's clear that a simple manufactured apology won't make up for the action that this brand has been lacking for years.
\u201c@VictoriasSecret Chile that weak ass apology!!! Keep it!!! "It's not about gender"?? Girl bye and girl stop!! It's ridiculous in 2018 and with all that's going on in the world, your company would say something so heinous and discriminatory. Who is y'all publicist??#problematicAF #CANCELLED\u201d— Victoria's Secret (@Victoria's Secret) 1541822508
\u201cThe only reason Victoria\u2019s Secret is even giving an apology is because they saw folks boycotting them.\u201d— Rebecca Theodore-Vachon \ud83c\udded\ud83c\uddf9 \ud83c\udde9\ud83c\uddf4 \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Rebecca Theodore-Vachon \ud83c\udded\ud83c\uddf9 \ud83c\udde9\ud83c\uddf4 \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1541873519
\u201cSo you \u201cadmire and respect\u201d transgender people, but think they can\u2019t \u201cmake it\u201d as models? What a BS apology. Ed Razek, your transphobia is showing! Victoria\u2019s Secret needs to make a change and it should start at the top.\u201d— Eric Rosswood (@Eric Rosswood) 1541865863
\u201cI'd like to remind all of you keyboard warriors that Ed Razek, the CMO of Victoria's Secret, also made derogatory comments about having plus size models in the show but excluded those women in his apology.\n\nFunny how you conveniently left plus size women out of your outrage, too.\u201d— Sarah Conley (@Sarah Conley) 1541865566