It’s been a tumultuous few weeks for Victoria’s Secret. After Australian model Shanina Shaik revealed the brand’s annual runway show was cancelled for 2019, it was announced that chief marketing officer, Ed Razek, had stepped down from his position. Now, multiple high profile models have co-signed an open letter to the US lingerie label, asking it to take action to ensure the safety of the models who work with them.
The Model Alliance, an organisation founded by ex-high fashion model Sara Ziff, wrote an open letter to CEO John Mehas, calling for Victoria’s Secret to sign the Model Alliance’s RESPECT Program in the wake of #MeToo and the recent sex trafficking charges against billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, who allegedly had ties to the brand.
“We are writing today to express our concern for the safety and wellbeing of the models and young women who aspire to model for Victoria’s Secret,” the letter reads in part. “In the past few weeks, we have heard numerous allegations of sexual assault, alleged rape, and sex trafficking of models and aspiring models. While these allegations may not have been aimed at Victoria’s Secret directly, it is clear that your company has a crucial role to play in remedying the situation.”
“From the headlines about L Brands CEO Leslie Wexner’s close friend and associate, Jeffrey Epstein, to the allegations of sexual misconduct by photographers Timur Emek, David Bellemere, and Greg Kadel, it is deeply disturbing that these men appear to have leveraged their working relationships with Victoria’s Secret to lure and abuse vulnerable girls,” the letter continues.
Co-signers include Christy Turlington, Gemma Ward, Robyn Lawley, ex-Victoria’s Secret Angel Doutzen Kroes and Time’s Up – the organisation founded by Hollywood celebrities in the wake of the allegations against Harvey Weinstein.
Victoria’s Secret is yet to publicly respond to the letter.
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