Anna Wintour Admits She Hasn’t Done Much For Black Artists at Vogue
After a slew of recent media attention has been given to Anna Wintour and her infamous attitude, the Vogue editor in chief has now admitted to being “hurtful and intolerant,” adding that she has not done enough to promote black staff and designers.
“I want to start by acknowledging your feelings and expressing my empathy towards what so many of you are going through: sadness, hurt, and anger too,” she said in an email to staff, according to Page Six.
“I want to say this especially to the Black members of our team — I can only imagine what these days have been like. But I also know that the hurt, and violence, and injustice we’re seeing and talking about have been around for a long time. Recognizing it and doing something about it is overdue.”
This week, Adam Rapoport, editor-in-chief of Bon Appétit, resigned after a photo of him in brownface surfaced, which prompted several high-level editors to speak about their own insensitivities.
“I want to say plainly that I know Vogue has not found enough ways to elevate and give space to Black editors, writers, photographers, designers and other creators,” Anna continued. “We have made mistakes too, publishing images or stories that have been hurtful or intolerant. I take full responsibility for those mistakes.”
“It can’t be easy to be a Black employee at Vogue, and there are too few of you,” she added. “I know that it is not enough to say we will do better, but we will — and please know that I value your voices and responses as we move forward. I am listening and would like to hear your feedback and your advice if you would like to share either.
“I am proud of the content we have published on our site over these past few days but I also know that there is much more work to do. Please don’t hesitate to be in touch with me directly. I am arranging ways we can discuss these issues together candidly, but in the meantime, I welcome your thoughts or reactions.”
Recently, Vogue’s former editor at large André Leon Talley wrote in his new memoir, The Chiffon Trenches, that he was fired because he was “too old” and “too fat.”
He also said that Anna failed to thank him for writing an op-ed for the Washington Post praising her September 2018 cover featuring Beyoncé.
“Not one quick email from Anna Wintour,” André wrote. “Editors I’ve worked with for decades didn’t understand the immense importance of this occasion simply because they are not capable of understanding. None of my contemporaries have seen the world through black eyes.”
Wow. Do you think this will solve issues at Vogue? We think not.