100 models including Christy Turlington and Iskra Lawrence sign open letter to Victoria's Secret's CEO decrying 'culture of misogyny, bullying, and harassment' at the lingerie company, saying it is 'worse than ever'
- Over 100 models sign open letter calling for Victoria's Secrets to take action
- Model Alliance allege firm has 'culture of misogyny, bullying, and harassment'
- Christy Turlington, Iskra Lawrence, Edie Campbell, Amber Valletta sign letter
- Top executive Ed Razek allegedly asked women to sit on his lap and kiss him
More than 100 models have signed a second open letter to the CEO of Victoria's Secret calling for him to take action on the company's 'culture of misogyny and abuse'.
The letter urges John Mehas to end what the group describe as an 'entrenched culture of misogyny' at the lingerie chain.
The Model Alliance, a nonprofit that advocates for the protection of models, began the campaign five months ago by proposing the company 'take concrete action to change', it said.
But following an investigation by the New York Times, the group claims the 'culture of misogyny, bullying, and harassment' was 'even more egregious and more entrenched than previously understood' and so wrote the second open letter to Mehas published yesterday.
Signatories of the letter include catwalk stars such as Christy Turlington Burns, Iskra Lawrence, Edie Campbell, Amber Valletta and Felicity Hayward.
Models who have worked with Victoria's Secret such as Karen Elson and Caitriona Balfe also co-signed the document.
Barbara Palvin, Yasmin Wijnaldum, Winnie Harlow, Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner and Alexina Graham on the catwalk Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, Runway, New York, in November 2018. None of the above pictured signed The Model Alliance's letter to CEO John Mehas
Caitriona Balfe during 8th Annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. She was one of more than 100 signatories to the open letter
The New York Times article described a 'culture of misogyny, bullying, and harassment' at Victoria's Secret among current and former executives, employees and contractors.
They allege a climate of misogyny was fostered by two top executives - Ed Razek and Les Wexner - at Victoria's Secrets parent company, L Brands.
'We believe that this moment can be a wake-up call for Victoria's Secret,' the letter states.
The group go on to allege they met with bosses at the firm but their complaints were not taken seriously.
The letter states: 'The Model Alliance met with Tammy Roberts Myers, Chief Communications Officer of L Brands in New York City last September, it was made abundantly clear that Victoria's Secret does not take these complaints seriously.
'In a follow-up email she told us that Victoria's Secret was not ready to take any concrete steps towards addressing these allegations - rather, the company is simply, ''in the process of continued learning and listening''.'
The group goes on to describe the treatment of models at the firm as 'human rights violations'.
It read: 'In the face of the horrifying revelations from the past year, this response is utterly unacceptable.
'Human rights violations can't be stopped with a corporate rebranding exercise.'
Model Christy Turlington at the Chanel Metiers D'Art Show at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in 2018. She was one of the most high-profile signatories of the letter
Iskra Lawrence (left) and Edie Campbell (right) both signed the open letter to Victoria's Secret CEO about concerns over bullying and misogyny
Model Andi Muise alleged that Victoria's Secret stopped hiring her for its fashion shows after she rebuffed Razek's advances.
Razek, 71, a former executive at L Brands who stepped down in October, allegedly asked women to sit on his lap and kiss him, according to sources who spoke to The Times.
The article detailed complaints of inappropriate conduct towards models and employees.
Sources claimed crotch-grabbing, body shaming, lewd remarks and retaliation for the rebuffing advances were common among workers.
It also stated the models' images were used unauthorized and some were pressured to pose nude without any pay.
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Casey Crowe Taylor, a former public relations employee, told the newspaper: 'This abuse was just laughed off and accepted as normal.And anyone who tried to do anything about it wasn't just ignored. They were punished.'
According to Last week it emerged billionaire L Brands boss Leslie Wexner, 82, may step down and sell the company after his past association with Jeffrey Epstein has drawn increasing scrutiny.
Wexner reportedly hired Epstein as a financial adviser and remained close friends prior to recent accusations.
The 82-year-old is reportedly looking to sell Victoria's Secret and step down as CEO, according to The Wall Street Journal.
A Victoria's Secret store, a subsidiary of L Brands Inc., in New York. The Model Alliance claim they met with with bosses at the firm but their complaints were not taken seriously
The co-signatories of the open letter published yesterday, that included Christy Turlington Burns, Iskra Lawrence, Edie Campbell, Amber Valletta, Karen Elson and Caitriona Balfe
Sara Ziff, a former model and the founder of the Model Alliance, said the group has been talking to L Brands about problems around harassment for several months.
She said: 'It is both frustrating and deeply disturbing that Victoria's Secret/L Brands still have not taken models' concerns about their safety at work seriously.'
In order to protect future models against abuse and harassment, the alliance is recommending for Victoria's Secret to implement a RESPECT Program within its brand.
It wants signatory companies to make a commitment to require employees, agents, photographers and other contractors to follow a code of conduct and install a robust system for complaints made against abusers.
A spokesman for L Brands said in a statement: 'We absolutely share a common goal with Model Alliance to ensure the safety and wellbeing of models.
'Our robust Photo Shoot Procedures, including training and oversight, were implemented in May 2019 and reflect elements of the RESPECT Program and beyond.
'We're proud of the progress we've made and remain committed to continuous improvement.
'We're always open to engage with those looking to make improvements in the industry.'
Last August's letter to Victoria's Secret, also signed by Angel Doutzen Kroes, called out sexual harassment and abuse in the industry.
It mentioned the alleged sexual misconduct by photographers Timur Emek, David Bellemere and Greg Kadel, and their power within the Victoria's Secret brand over its models.
These male photographers were accused last year of taking advantage of the models they shot and allegedly forcing some to perform sexual favors or pose nude.
