Victoria’s Secret Executive Apologizes for Anti-Trans Comments

During an interview with Vogue on Thursday, Victoria’s Secret chief marketing officer Ed Razek explained why the company discriminates against plus-size and trans models in their annual fashion show. 

After admitting that the company has previously considered diversifying their cast, Razek brushed aside the possibility of expanding the show’s roster to include curve and transwomen. “Shouldn’t you have transsexuals in the show? No. No, I don’t think we should,” he said. “Well, why not? Because the show is a fantasy. It’s a 42-minute entertainment special. That’s what it is. It is the only one of its kind in the world, and any other fashion brand in the world would take it in a minute, including the competitors that are carping at us. And they carp at us because we’re the leader…We attempted to do a television special for plus-sizes [in 2000]. No one had any interest in it, still don’t.” 

Following a wave of backlash, Victoria’s Secret released a statement from Razek, in which he apologizes for his remarks. “My remark regarding the inclusion of transgender models in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show came across as insensitive. I apologize. To be clear, we absolutely would cast a transgender model in our show. We’ve had transgender models come to castings…And like many others, they didn’t make it. It was never about gender. I admire and respect their journey to embrace who they really are.”

This isn’t the first time that Victoria’s Secret fashion show has sparked controversy over its cultural insensitivity—many may remember Karlie Kloss strutting down the runway clad in a “Native American-inspired” headdress in 2012. Similarly, models have criticized the company after feeling pressured to lose weight before the annual broadcast.