Editor-In-Chief Anna Wintour Admits to ‘Hurtful, Intolerant’ Mistakes at ‘Vogue’
Amid global protests against police brutality and systemic racism in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour has decided to speak in a heartfelt letter to address “hurtful” and “intolerant” behavior while admitting the company has not done enough to promote black staffers and designers.
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As reported by Page Six, Wintour, 70, penned down an apology to all her staff members. “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 wrote. “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.”
Wintour went to admit that black people were not given enough opportunities within the magazine: “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. We have made mistakes too, publishing images or stories that have been hurtful or intolerant. I take full responsibility for those mistakes.” She acknowledged that it is hard being a black employee at Vogue and suggested that some sort of change was to come.
“It can’t be easy to be a Black employee at Vogue, and there are too few of you. 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.”
Before concluding she added,
“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.”
The little letter comes after ex-Vogue editor André Leon Talley spoke out about his friendship with Wintour in his book “The Chiffon Trenches: A Memoir.” He detailed how Wintour was “not capable of simple human kindness.”
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