The Victoria’s Secret fashion show, which was recorded on November 8, aired last night. Victoria’s Secret is increasingly seen as a relic of women dressing for men’s pleasure, and the brand is losing market share as a result. There were no plus-sized models on the runway, there were no transgender models, and to add insult to injury their 70 year-old Chief Marketing Officer, Ed Razek, made some really obnoxious comments about their lack of inclusion. He said, in part, that people ask him “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.” The term transsexual is considered outdated and is not a preferred term. What’s more is that this is obnoxious. He also said that Victoria’s Secret can’t “be all things to all customers,” complained about being “politically correct ” and said, of the lack of plus sizes and models of all shapes and sizes, that their sister brand Lane Bryant existed for that. Ok then, we don’t have to buy their products either then, thanks for letting us know.
Singer Halsey performed at the Victoria’s Secret fashion show. After it aired, she issued the following statement on her Instagram about the show’s lack of LGBTQ inclusion. Halsey has been open about her bisexuality and this was personal for her.
Commenters are complaining that Halsey took Victoria’s Secret’s money and still did the show, but that’s not the timeline as she clearly states. The show was taped on November 8th and the comments from the CMO came out after that. She probably had very specific contractual requirements and was afraid to speak out against VS prior to it airing. Plus she didn’t want to overshadow the show before it came on TV. She waited and that’s completely understandable. Ultimately Halsey did the right thing. I wish she would have mentioned VS’s lack of plus-sized inclusion too, but maybe that’s implied. Plus she focused on the one issue and reached out to transgender people. We need more celebrities and everyday people to stand up for what’s right and decent. Respect.
So you’re telling me before she signed on to do the show she never noticed their lack of inclusion?
SERIOUSLY. The right thing to do would have been to not sign on to the show.
There was more than one option for right things to do in this situation and she did one of them. The right thing doesn’t always have to mean marginalized groups turning down career opportunities or exposure because of the wrongs of the privileged. I’m fine with this.
I saw this on tv the other night and could not believe this crap still gets aired in primetime on a major network. And who has “adored the VS fashion show” since they were a kid? That’s weird. I don’t question the sincerity of her statement though. I just never consider VS and inclusion in the same conversation.
I think VS is just simply out of style now. It’s been a mall staple for decades–basically just Frederick’s of Hollywood marketed to teens. The company needs to rebrand and come up with another angle.
P.S. As a lesbian, I’m fine being left out of what seems like a fashion show for pedos.
Come on, they were never inclusive.this is the show that calls Barbara Palvin their plus size model.
Even before the comments by the ceo she could just had look into VS Instagram and she would notice the lack of inclusivity.
was she living under a rock before the show? VS top execs have made problematic statements regarding LGBTQ, trans, and plus-size women for years.
I bought VS underwear once … what a waste of money. Bad quality, bad sizing, just bad overall. Honestly, never buying it again
My bra fell apart after one (proper) washing. My Walmart underwear is still hanging in after 10 years but I’m considering replacing it just because.
not a fan of vs whatsoever. they have never been inclusive. she has been a huge but never noticed this until now? she cashed that check though right
She stated that no one is paid for these performances.
I’m pretty ok without having representation in this antiquated relic from the past. Not everything needs to get updated and modernized. Some things will just quietly fade away, and that’s ok too.
What does somebody’s sexual orientation or gender identity say about their modeling abilities? Shouldn’t they hire based on skills? And how do we know there aren’t any LGBT models in the show? Not everybody wants to be defined by their sexual orientation.
Because these days every single sexual orientation, size, ethnicity, religion etc MUST be represented or else they’re being unfairly excluded and that’s not allowed in 2018….
Because we live in the upside down
MUST be represented or else …
Lol of course she gets lippy after cashing the cheque
Everyone’s not out of the closet; so, assuming there’s a lack of inclusion may be unintentionally burning some folks.
If they are in the closet then they don’t count for lgbt inclusivity since they are straight to the public
Well, outside of (some) angels, most of these women are largely unknown to non-fashion savvy audiences. The most “public” they can be about their sexuality is talking about it on Instagram.
Stella Maxwell is one of the core angels and is openly gay. She certainly isn’t hiding either. She previously had a relationship with Miley Cyrus and she has been with Kristen Stewart for about two years. I’m not sure about the other, non-Angel models in the show but I’m sure there are others. The LQBTQ+ issue here is more about the Trans comments made by the CMO.
I would imagine they’re fine with lesbians or bisexual women because those contribute to the ~fantasy~ for straight men, if I’m brutally honest. Transwomen, on the other hand, challenge the gender dichotomy.
Stella Maxwell is a lesbian and an Angel. It is a seriously crappy show though.
I cannot see or comprehend anything because of her feathered eyebrows ?!? What is this nonsense. It’s going to give me nightmares.
Just annoying. I don’t know a single person who watches the VS fashion show. I assumed mainly men probably watched it anyway. I don’t care who VS hires to model their overpriced stuff anyway. If they dont want trans models that’s their prerogative. Someone is always upset about something.
Victoria’s Secret makes crap clothing. That being said they sell something very specific and have a very specific target audience; I’m not surprised that they don’t have or want trans women or GLBTQA+ representation. And we all know it and can make informed decisions as consumers. But no one can force them to put on the type of show they want to see or have the type of representation they want to see. If someone wants a show with a bunch of trans women modeling lingerie, get some capital and go for it. VS has never been about representing anything outside of a very narrow definition of attractiveness – with the occasional minority woman thrown in for good measure. I just cannot even be outraged about them at this point. Waste of time and energy.
Since when was Victoria’s Secret inclusive? They thought Kate Upton was too fat. I did notice that the show seemed to have a bit more diverse type of models in the past. They had Tyra Banks, who is nowhere near fat, but is a bit curvier and Omahyra who is more androgynous and edgy. Now they’re kind of interchangeable.
This was Adriana Lima’s last year as an angel, too. Shame the CEO felt the need to mar her last runway.