Top models Christy Turlington and Doutzen Kroes are among 100 models who have signed a petition urging bosses at Victoria’s Secret to protect them from sexual misconduct.
More than 100 models, including Carolyn Murphy, Edie Campbell, Gemma Ward, along with the ’90s supermodel Christy Turlington, and former Dutch Victoria’s Secret Angel Doutzen Kroes, have signed a letter to Victoria’s Secret’s chief executive, John Mehas, urging the brand to take steps to protect contractors like models from sexual misconduct. Non-profit organisation Model Alliance posted a copy of the letter on Twitter, with the text reading:
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.
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.
Of late, the lingerie label has been rocked by allegations of sexual misconduct by photographers Timur Emek, David Bellemere, and Greg Kadel. Emek has not yet responded to the claims, while Bellemere and Kadel have denied the allegations.
“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 continued.
The petition from Model Alliance is also signed by a member of the Hollywood-led initiative Time’s Up, photographers Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, and former Glamour editor-in-chief Cindi Leive. Additionally, it asks Victoria’s Secret to sign on to its Respect programme, which was designed by models and aims to support those who need to report complaints about individuals in the industry, as well as provide education and training.
News of the letter comes shortly after Ed Razek, Victoria’s Secret’s chief marketing officer, resigned from his position. He joined the company in 1983.
Yakymour 