Victoria’s Secret Apologise For ‘Insensitive’ Comments About Transgender Models

A Victoria’s Secret executive has apologised for “insensitive” comments he made about casting transgender and plus-size models in the lingerie company’s annual fashion show. 

Ed Razek gave an interview to Vogue magazine in which he argued that the shows are “a fantasy” and claimed that only a certain type of model should get the chance to wear those coveted angel wings. 

In comments that have since been slammed online, he said: "Does the brand think about diversity? Yes. Do we offer larger sizes? Yes... Shouldn't you have transsexuals in the show? No. No, I don't think we should.” 

"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.”

Continuing to defend his position, Razek said "we attempted to do a television special for plus-sizes [in 2000]. No one had any interest in it, still don’t."

These remarks naturally came in for a lot of backlash on social-media, with people pointing out that Rihanna’s inclusive Savage x Fenty show has been a huge commerical success.

For their part, Victoria’s Secret have since released a statement from Mr Razek, reading: "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."

https://twitter.com/VictoriasSecret/status/1061106626583822338?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1061106626583822338&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fworld-us-canada-46163922

As much as the world loves seeing Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner and co walking down the catwalk, let’s hope the brand’s 2019 show will make some headway on being a little more diverse.