Boss Victoria’s Secret Ed Razek, apologized to transgenders

The marketing boss of lingerie brand Victoria’s Secret has apologized for comments he made about transgender models this week. According to him, they do not belong in the famous catwalk show of the brand. Because the event must represent a world full of ‘fantasy’. After a storm of criticism on social media, he now comes back to that.

The noise started last Thursday when Ed Razek spoke to Vogue about diversity in the fashion world. In the past few years, transgender people have seen several times in advertisements from other brands. Such representation is important according to experts. Because if transgenders never see transmitters as models, they can get the idea that such work is not for them. But with Victoria’s Secret no transsexual can be seen.

Such people also have nothing to look for between the ‘angels’, says Razek. According to the advertising boss, the brand has really thought about using transgender models, but “it does not have to be”. “Why not? Because the show is fantasy,” he begins. “It is an entertainment special of 42 minutes. That is what it is. The show is the only one of its kind and any other fashion brand would immediately take over, even the brands that complain about us.”

At the event, according to Razek, there are no plus size models. “In 2000 we made a TV special with plus sizes” says Razek. “No one was interested in that, and still is not.” Although the fashion show of singer Rihanna and her lingerie brand Savage x Fenty could count on a lot of praise earlier this year. Because of the fuller models on the catwalk, Victoria’s Secret had never come away with it, according to Razek.. “Then everyone had said that we wanted to score easily.”

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Razek got a lot of criticism of his statements in recent days, including the well-known transgender model Andreja Pejić. who called his statements “backward”. Today came Victoria’s Secret on Twitter with apologies, but only regarding transmensen.

“My remark regarding inclusion of transgenders in the Victoria’s Secret show came across as insensitive,” he says. “Sorry about that. For the sake of clarity: we would certainly use a transgender model. There have been many transgender people at castings, but like many others they did not make it. But it was never about their sex. I admire and respect their journey to embrace who they really are.”

Please read this important message from Ed Razek, Chief Marketing Officer, L Brands (parent company of Victoria’s Secret). pic.twitter.com/CW8BztmOaM

— Victoria’s Secret (@VictoriasSecret) November 10, 2018